Method and System for Selective Content Processing Based on a Panoramic Camera  and a Virtual-Reality Headset

ABSTRACT

A method and a system for selective-content processing of panoramic multimedia signals are disclosed. Features of panoramic cameras and low-latency virtual-reality headsets are exploited to create an advanced efficient system for covering events of diverse and fast-motion actions for the purpose of both broadcasting and data streaming. The disclosed system employs a virtual-reality headset to produce a display of a multimedia signal and generate geometric data defining a view region of the display. A content-filtered signal is extracted from the multimedia signal, according to the geometric data, for broadcasting and dissemination to client devices of a universal streaming server.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/340,193, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLOW-RATE REGULATION IN A CONTENT-CONTROLLED STREAMING NETWORK”, filed on Nov. 1, 2016, which claims the benefit from U.S. provisional application 62/249,599 filed on Nov. 2, 2015, and which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/259,952, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PANORAMIC MULTIMEDIA STREAMING” filed Sep. 8, 2016, which claims the benefit from provisional application 62/216,326, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PANORAMIC MULTIMEDIA STREAMING” filed Sep. 9, 2015.

The present application also claims the benefit from U.S. provisional application 62/361,627 entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLOW-RATE REGULATION IN A CONTENT-CONTROLLED STREAMING NETWORK”, filed Jul. 13, 2016.

The entire content of all of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to broadcasting and/or streaming content-filtered multimedia signals of content selected from output of a multimedia signal source, including panoramic camera.

BACKGROUND

Current broadcasting methods of covering events exhibiting several activities are based on employing multiple cameras to capture activities taking place in different parts of a field of events. At any time, a person selects content captured by one of the cameras to broadcast.

The availability of panoramic cameras, each of which covering a view of a solid angle of up to 4π Steradians, motivates exploring alternate methods of covering such events.

Conventionally, streaming servers have been used to perform multimedia signal adaptation and distribution to individual client devices. With panoramic multimedia-signals, a high-capacity path need be established between the multimedia source and the streaming server, paths of adaptive capacities need be established between the streaming server and multiple client devices, and the streaming server need be equipped with powerful processing facilities. A streaming server may transmit multimedia data to multiple client devices. The server may perform transcoding functions to adapt data according to characteristics of client devices as well as to conditions of network paths from the server to the client devices. The multimedia data may represent video signals, audio signals, static images, and text.

Streaming multimedia data containing panoramic video signals require relatively higher capacity transport resources and more intensive processing. A panoramic video signal from a video source employing a panoramic camera occupies a relatively high bandwidth of a transmission medium. Sending the panoramic video signal directly from the video source to a client device requires a broadband path from the video source to the client's device and high-speed processing capability at the client device. Additionally, the video signal may require adaptation to suit differing characteristics of individual client devices.

In a panoramic-multimedia streaming system, it is desirable to provide clients with the capability to adaptively select view regions of panoramic scenes during a streaming session. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a flexible streaming server with the capability of client-specific signal-content filtering as well as signal processing to adapt signals to different types of client devices and to varying capacities of network paths to client devices. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for regulating data flow rate in a network hosting a streaming server. The system relies on a flexible streaming server with adaptive processing capability and adaptive network connectivity where the capacity of network paths to and from multimedia data sources, including panoramic video sources, and client devices may vary temporally and spatially.

SUMMARY

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an efficient broadcasting and streaming system employing a 4π panoramic camera to cover an event with an operator wearing a low-tracking latency Virtual Reality (VR) headset. On going research in the area of positional tracking aims at reducing tracking latency to a few milliseconds. The operator need not be located at the field of events.

A panoramic camera produces a raw signal of very high bit rate which may be transmitted over a high-speed transmission link to a “monitoring facility” which may be on board of a vehicle situated close to the field of events. The raw signal may be sent without compression, or after undergoing light compression, to the monitoring facility if transmission link is a fiber-optic link or a very short wireless link. At the monitoring facility, the received panoramic signal is decompressed, where applicable, and de-warped.

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a method of communication comprising acquiring a source signal from a panoramic signal source and employing a virtual-reality headset to produce a virtual-reality display of a pure signal comprising multimedia signals and generate geometric data defining a selected view-region definition data of the display. The virtual-reality display may be produced from the pure signal using an internal display device of the virtual-reality headset and/or an external display device.

A content filter extracts a content-filtered signal from the pure signal according to the geometric data. The content-filtered signal is forwarded to a broadcasting apparatus and optionally to a streaming server which generates content-filtered signals based on viewers' selections. The virtual-reality headset comprises a processor and memory devices to perform the process of generating the geometric data and tracking of changing gaze orientation of an operator wearing the virtual-reality headset.

A sensor within the virtual-reality headset provides parameters defining a current gaze orientation of the operator. A content filter is devised to determine the selected view region according to the current gaze orientation and a predefined shape of the view region.

The pure signal is produced from a source signal received from a panoramic signal source. The source signal includes multimedia signal components and a signal descriptor identifying the multimedia signal. The signal descriptor identifies content of the source signal as one of: a de-warped raw signal, herein called a pure signal; an unprocessed raw signal; a raw (warped) compressed signal; and a de-warped compressed signal. If the content of the source signal is not the pure signal, the source signal is supplied to a matching pure-signal generator to produce the pure signal.

The process of generating the geometric data comprises steps of determining a gaze position of a viewer of the virtual-reality display, and determining spatial coordinates of a contour of a predefined form surrounding the gaze position.

The content-filtered signal is extracted from the pure signal according to the geometric data. The content-filtered signal comprises samples of the pure signal corresponding to points within the contour. The function of the content filter may be performed within the virtual-reality headset so that extracting the content-filtered signal may be performed using processor executable instructions stored in a memory device of the virtual-reality headset. Alternatively, extracting the content-filtered signal may be performed at an independent content filter coupled to the virtual-reality headset and comprising a respective processor and a memory device.

The content-filtered signal may be compressed to produce a compressed filtered signal. The compressed filtered signal may then be transmitted to a broadcasting station, through channel, and/or a Universal Streaming Server, through channel and network.

The source signal received from the panoramic signal source may be relayed, using repeater, to a streaming apparatus that comprises an acquisition module and a Universal Streaming Server. The acquisition module generates a replica of the pure signal which is supplied to the Universal Streaming Server. The Universal Streaming Server is configured to provide viewer content control to a plurality of viewers.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a communication system configured to receive a modulated carrier source signal and extract a content-filtered multi-media signal for broadcasting. The system comprises a virtual-reality headset, a content filter, and a transmitter.

The virtual-reality headset is configured to present a virtual-reality display of a pure signal derived from the received modulated carrier source signal. The content filter is configured to generate a content-filtered signal from the pure signal according to the geometric data. The transmitter sends the content-filtered signal along a channel to a broadcasting station.

The virtual-reality headset comprises a sensor of gaze orientation of an operator wearing the virtual-reality headset and a memory device storing processor executable instructions causing a processor to generate geometric data defining a view region of the display according to the gaze orientation. The content filter comprises a respective processor and a memory device.

The communication system further comprises an acquisition module for deriving the pure signal from the received panoramic multimedia signal. The acquisition module comprises a receiver, a set of pure-signal generators for generation the pure signal, and a selector. Receiver generates from a modulated carrier source signal a source multimedia signal and a corresponding signal descriptor. Selector directs the source multimedia signal to a matching pure-signal generator according to the corresponding signal descriptor.

The virtual-reality headset is further configured to determine a gaze position of the operator and the geometric data as representative spatial coordinates of a contour of a predefined form surrounding the gaze position. The content-filtered signal comprises samples of the pure signal corresponding to content within the contour.

Optionally, the communication system may comprise a repeater for relaying the modulated carrier source signal sent from a panoramic signal source to a streaming apparatus. The streaming apparatus comprises an acquisition module for generating a replica of the pure signal and a Universal Streaming Server receiving the pure signal and providing content-filtered signals based on individual viewer selection.

In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of communications comprising generating at an acquisition module a pure signal from a multimedia signal, received from a panoramic multimedia source and employing a content selector configured to extract from the pure signal content-filtered signals corresponding to varying view-regions of a displayed view regions.

The content selector performs processes of employing a virtual-reality headset to view a display of the pure signal and determining a current gaze position from the virtual-reality headset.

A displacement of the current gaze position from the reference gaze position is then determined, the reference gaze position being initialized, for example as a Null value. The reference gaze position is updated to equal the current gaze position subject to a determination that the displacement exceeds a predefined threshold.

View-definition data are then generated using the reference gaze position and a predefined contour shape (such as a rectangle). A content-filtered signal is extracted from the pure signal according to the view-definition data and transmitted to a broadcasting facility.

The gaze position is represented as a vector of multiple dimensions and the displacement is determined as Euclidean distance between a first vector representing the reference gaze position and a second vector representing the current gaze position. The multiple dimensions may be selected as tilt, pan, and zoom parameters acquired from a sensor of the virtual-reality headset. The view-definition data may be retained for reuse for cases where the displacement is less than or equal to the predefined threshold.

Thus, methods and systems for selective content processing based on a panoramic or another multimedia camera and a virtual-reality headset have been provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for panoramic multimedia streaming comprising a panoramic multimedia source and a universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for panoramic multimedia streaming comprising multiple panoramic multimedia sources and multiple universal streaming servers, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates communication options between a panoramic multimedia source and a universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates communication paths corresponding to the communication options of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates components of an end-to-end path corresponding to a first communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates components of an end-to-end path corresponding to a second communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates components of an end-to-end path corresponding to a third communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates components of an end-to-end path corresponding to a fourth communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates multimedia signals and control signals at input and output of a universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates components of an exemplary universal streaming server employing client-specific adaptation modules, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 details a client-specific adaptation module of the exemplary universal streaming server of FIG. 10, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates temporal variation of flow rate of a compressed video signal;

FIG. 13 illustrates modules for generating video signals of reduced flow rates yet suitable for exhibiting panoramic full spatial coverage to enable a client to select a preferred partial-coverage view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a process of requesting and acquiring a content-filtered video signal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates temporal flow-rate variation of video signals transmitted from a universal streaming server to a client device, the video signals including a frame-sampled video signal followed by a compressed video signal;

FIG. 16 illustrates the signal-editing module of FIG. 4 structured as a content-filtering stage and a signal-processing stage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates the content-filtering stage of FIG. 16 implemented as an array of content filters for concurrent generation of different partial-content signals from a full-content signal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a signal-processing unit of the signal-processing stage of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 illustrates the signal-editing module of FIG. 16 including details of the content-filtering stage and signal-processing stage, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates processes of video signal editing for a target client device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 details a module for determining permissible flow rates;

FIG. 22 illustrates components of a client device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 illustrates communication paths between a universal streaming server and panoramic multimedia sources in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates communication paths between a universal streaming server and panoramic multimedia sources and communication paths between the universal streaming server and a plurality of heterogeneous client devices of a streaming system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 illustrates communication paths between a universal streaming server and a multimedia signal source and communication paths between the universal streaming server and two client devices where an automaton associated with a client device may send commands to the universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 illustrates a modular structure of the universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 illustrates a learning module coupled to the universal streaming server of FIG. 26, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 illustrates processes performed at a universal streaming server where a panoramic video signal is adapted to client-device types then content filtered, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates processes performed at universal streaming server where a panoramic video signal is content filtered then adapted to client-device types, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a flow chart depicting processes of acquisition of a panoramic multimedia signal and adapting the acquired multimedia signal to individual clients, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a flow chart depicting executing the processes of FIG. 30 in a different order, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 illustrates a streaming-control table maintained at the universal streaming server for a specific video-source, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 illustrates a process of initial adaptation of a multimedia signal for a specific client, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 illustrates a table recording a count of viewing-preference patterns for each type of client devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 illustrates processes of flow-rate control based on signal-content changes and performance metrics, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 illustrates a control system of a universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 37 illustrates a combined process of content filtering and flow-rate adaptation of a signal in the streaming system of FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 illustrates a content filter of a universal streaming server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 39 illustrates initial processes performed at the universal streaming server to start a streaming session, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 40 illustrates a method of adaptive modification of content and flow rate of a signal, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41 illustrates criteria of determining a preferred encoding rate of a signal based on performance measurements pertinent to receiver condition and network-path condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 42 illustrates processes of determining a preferred encoding rate of a signal based on the criteria illustrated in FIG. 41, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 43 illustrates a method of eliminating redundant processing of content selection in a universal streaming system serving numerous clients, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 44 illustrates transient concurrent content-filtering of a video signal to enable seamless transition from one view region to another, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 45 illustrates coupling the universal streaming server to a router-switch of a network, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 46 illustrates prior-art system for selective content broadcasting using multiple cameras, multiple displays, and a selector (switcher);

FIG. 47 illustrates an arrangement for broadcasting operator-defined content of multimedia signals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 48 illustrates a first system for combined broadcasting and streaming comprising a broadcasting subsystem and a streaming subsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 49 illustrates an acquisition module for extracting a pure multimedia signal, comprising a pure video signal and other multimedia components, from a modulated carrier signal received from a panoramic multimedia signal source in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 50 illustrates an arrangement for content selection for broadcasting, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 51 illustrates a first broadcasting subsystem for selective content broadcasting employing a panoramic camera and a virtual reality (VR) headset, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 52 illustrates a second broadcasting subsystem for selective content broadcasting and streaming comprising an augmented content selector equipped with a content buffer and a distant content selector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 53 illustrates control data sent from the distant content selector to the augmented content selector of the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 52, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 54 illustrates data exchange between the augmented content selector and the distant content selector of the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 52, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 55 illustrates frame-data flow through the content buffer of the augmented content selector of the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 52;

FIG. 56 illustrates a second system for combined selective content broadcasting and streaming employing a panoramic camera and a VR headset, the system comprising a routing facility and a distant content selector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 57 details the routing facility of the system of FIG. 56;

FIG. 58 details the distant content selector of the system of FIG. 56;

FIG. 59 illustrates a hybrid system for selective content broadcasting using a panoramic camera, a bank of content filters, and a conventional switcher, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 60 is a flowchart depicting basic processes of the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 51;

FIG. 61 is a flowchart depicting basic processes of the hybrid system of FIG. 59;

FIG. 62 is a flowchart depicting basic processes of the first system of FIG. 48 and FIG. 51;

FIG. 63 illustrates a method of content-filtering of a panoramic multimedia signal to produce an operator-defined content for broadcasting, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 64 illustrates processes performed at the remote content controller of the system of FIG. 56, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 65 illustrates processes 6500 performed at augmented content selector of the system of FIG. 56, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

TERMINOLOGY

-   Geometric data: Data defining a selected view-region of a display of     a video signal is herein referenced as “geometric data”. -   Gaze position: A point at which an operator of a virtual-reality     headset is perceived to be looking is referenced herein as a “gaze     position”. Generally, the gaze position may be represented as a set     of parameters or a vector in a multidimensional space. In one     implementation, a gaze position is defined according to conventional     “tilt, pan, and zoom” parameters. -   Multimedia signal: A multimedia signal may comprise a video signal     component, an audio signal component, a text, etc. Herein, the term     multimedia signal refers to a signal which contains a video signal     component and may contain signal components of other forms. All     processes pertinent to a multimedia signal apply to the video signal     component; processes—if any—applied to other signal components are     not described in the present application. -   Signal: A data stream occupying a time window is herein referenced     as a “signal”. The duration of the time window may vary from a few     microseconds to several hours. Throughout the description, the term     “signal” refers to a baseband signal. The term “transmitting a     signal” over a network refers to a process of a signal modulating a     carrier, such as an optical carrier, and transmitting the modulated     carrier. The term “receiving a signal” from a network refers to a     process of receiving and demodulating a modulated carrier to recover     a modulating base band signal. -   Panoramic video signal: A video signal of an attainable coverage     approximating full coverage is referenced as a panoramic video     signal. The coverage of a panoramic video signal may exceed 2π     steradians. -   Panoramic multimedia signal: A composite signal comprising audio     signals, image signals, text signals, and a panoramic video signal     is herein called a panoramic multimedia signal. -   Universal streaming server: A streaming server distributing     panoramic multimedia signals with client-controlled content     selection and flow-rate adaptation to receiver and network     conditions is referenced as a “universal streaming server”. A     universal streaming server may be referenced as a “server” for     brevity. The server comprises at least one hardware processor and at     least one memory device holding software instructions which cause     the at least one processor to perform the functions of acquiring     multimedia signals and generating client-specific content-filtered     multimedia signals under flow control. -   Full-content signal: A multimedia signal may contain multiple     components of different types, such as an encoded audio signal, an     encoded video signal, a text, a still image, etc. Any component may     be structured to contain multiple separable parts. For example, a     panoramic video component of a panoramic signal may be divided into     sub-components each covering a respective subtending solid angle of     less than 4π steradians. -   Partial-content signal: The term refers to a signal derived from a     full-content signal where at least one separable part of any     component is filtered out and possibly other components are filtered     out. -   Coverage of a video signal: The coverage (or spatial coverage) of a     video signal is defined herein as the solid angle subtended by a     space visible to a camera that produces the video signal. -   Full-coverage video signal: A video signal of coverage of 4π     steradians is referenced as a full-coverage video signal. A     full-coverage video signal may be a component of a full-content     signal. -   Signal filtering: The term signal filtering refers to conventional     operations performed at a signal receiver to eliminate or reduce     signal degradation caused by noise and delay jitter; a     signal-filtering process does not alter the content of the signal. -   Content filtering: The term refers to a process of modifying the     information of a signal (following a process of signal filtering) to     retain only specific information; content-filtering of a     full-coverage (attainable coverage) video signal yields a     partial-coverage video signal corresponding to a reduced (focused)     view region. -   Full-coverage camera (or 4π camera): A camera producing a     full-coverage video signal is herein referenced as a full-coverage     camera or a 4π camera. -   Attainable-coverage video signal: A full-coverage video signal is     produced by an ideal camera. The actual coverage of a video signal     produced by a camera is referenced as the attainable coverage. -   Partial-coverage video signal: A video signal of coverage less than     the attainable coverage is referenced as a partial-coverage video     signal. A partial-coverage video signal may be a component of a     partial-content signal. -   Partial-coverage multimedia signal: A composite signal comprising     audio signals, image signals, text signals, and a partial-coverage     video signal is herein called a partial-coverage multimedia signal. -   Source: A panoramic multimedia source comprises a full-coverage     camera as well as de-warping and decompression modules; the term     “source” is used herein to refer to a panoramic multimedia source. -   Raw video signal: The signal produced by a camera is referenced as a     “raw video signal”. -   Corrected video signal: A de-warped raw video signal is referenced     as a “corrected video signal”. -   Source video signal: A video signal received at a panoramic     multimedia server from a panoramic multimedia source is referenced     as a “source video signal”; a source video signal may be a raw video     signal, corrected video signal, compressed video signal, or a     compact video signal. -   Source multimedia signal: A multimedia signal received at a     panoramic multimedia server from a panoramic multimedia source is     referenced as a “source multimedia signal”; a source multimedia     signal may contain a source video signal in addition to signals of     other forms such as an audio signal or a text signal. -   Processor: The term “processor” used herein refers to at least one     hardware (physical) processing device which is coupled to at least     one memory device storing software instructions which cause the at     least one hardware processing device to perform operations specified     in the software instructions. -   Compression module: The term refers to a well known device     comprising a processor and a memory device storing software     instructions which cause the processor to encode an initial video     signal to produce a compressed video signal of a reduced bit rate in     comparison with the bit rate resulting from direct encoding of the     initial video signal. -   Decompression module: The term refers to a well known device     comprising a processor and a memory device storing software     instructions which cause the processor to decompress a compressed     video signal to produce a replica of an initial video signal from     which the compressed video signal was generated. -   Source compression module: A compression module coupled to a     video-signal source to generate a compressed video signal from a raw     video signal, or from a de-warped video signal generated from the     raw video signal, is a source compression module. Compression module     340 (FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8) is a source compression module. -   Server compression module: A compression module coupled to a server     to generate a compressed video signal from a source video signal     video signal is herein referenced as a “server compression module”.     Compression modules 1160 (FIG. 11), 1340, 1360 (FIG. 13), and 2030     (FIG. 20) are server compression modules. -   Server decompression module: A decompression module coupled to a     server to generate a replica of a raw video signal or a replica of a     de-warped video signal generated from the raw video signal, is     herein referenced as a “server decompression module”. Decompression     module 350 (FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8) is a server decompression module. -   Client decompression module: A decompression module coupled to a     client device to generate a replica of a pure video signal, or a     content-filtered video signal, generated at a server, is herein     referenced as a “client decompression module”. Compression module     2270 (FIG. 22) is a client decompression module. -   Compressed video signal: A compressed raw video signal is referenced     as a “compressed video signal”. -   Compact video signal: A compressed corrected signal is referenced as     a “compact video signal”. -   Rectified video signal: Processes of de-warping a raw video signal     followed by compression, then decompression or processes of     compressing a raw video signal followed by decompression and     de-warping yield a rectified video signal. -   Pure video signal: A corrected video signal or a rectified video     signal is referenced herein as a pure video signal. A pure video     signal corresponds to a respective scene captured at source. -   Signal sample: The term refers to a video signal of full coverage     (attainable coverage) derived from a pure video signal, or from a     transcoded video signal derived from the pure video signal. The flow     rate (bit rate) of a signal sample would be substantially lower than     the flow rate of the video signal from which the signal sample is     derived. A signal sample is sent to a client device to enable a     viewer at the client device to select and identify a preferred view     region. -   Encoder: An encoder may be an analogue to digital converter or a     digital-to-digital transcoder. An encoder produces an encoded signal     represented as a stream of bits. -   Encoding rate: The number of bits per unit time measured over a     relatively short period of time is considered an “instantaneous”     encoding rate during the measurement period. Rapid natural variation     of the encoding rate may take place due to the nature of the encoded     signal. A controller may force encoding-rate variation in response     to time-varying conditions of a communication path through a network     shared by numerous (uncoordinated) users. Forced encoding-rate     variations are typically slower than spontaneous variations of the     encoding rate. -   Flow rate: Without data loss, the flow rate of a signal along a path     to destination equals the encoding rate of the signal at a server.     Because of the natural fluctuations of the encoding rate, a     parametric representation of the encoding rate may be specified by a     user or determined at a controller. The parametric representation     may be based on conjectured statistical distribution of naturally     varying encoding rates. -   Metric: A metric is a single measure of a specific property or     characteristic derived from sufficient performance measurements     using, for example, regression analysis. -   Acceptance interval: A metric is considered to reflect a favourable     condition if the value of the metric is bounded between a lower     bound and an upper bound defining an “acceptance interval”. An     acceptance interval is inclusive, i.e., it includes the values of     the lower bound and the upper bound in addition to the values in     between. -   Metric index: A metric may be defined to be in one of three states:     a state of “−1” if the value of the metric is below the lower bound     of a respective acceptance interval, a state of “1” if the value is     above a higher bound of the acceptance interval, and a state “0”     otherwise, i.e., if the value is within the acceptance interval     including the lower and higher bounds. A metric index is the state     of the metric. -   Transmitter: The term refers to the conventional device which     modulates a carrier wave (an optical carrier or a microwave carrier)     with a baseband signal to produce a modulated carrier. -   Receiver: The term refers to the conventional device which     demodulates a modulated carrier to extract the transmitted baseband     signal. -   Processor: The term refers to a hardware device (a physical     processing device) -   Gb/s, Mb/s: Gigabits/second (10⁹ bits/second), Megabits/second (10⁶     bits/second)

The server of the present invention receives and disseminates panoramic multimedia signals. A panoramic multimedia signal contains a panoramic video signal in addition to signals of other forms, such as an audio signal and text. The description and the claimed subject mater focus on novel features relevant to the video-signal component. However, it is understood that the server delivers to client devices edited panoramic video signals together with signals of other types.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   100: System for streaming panoramic multimedia signals -   110: Panoramic multimedia source -   115: Transmission medium -   120: Universal streaming server (referenced as a “server” for     brevity) -   150: Network -   180: Client device -   200: Streaming system comprising multiple sources and multiple     servers -   310: Panoramic 4π camera -   312: Raw signal -   320: De-warping module at server -   322: Corrected signal -   324: Rectified signal -   330: De-warping module at source -   340: Compression module -   342: Compressed signal -   343: Compact signal -   350: Decompression module -   352: Decompressed signal -   420: Pure video signal -   460: Signal-editing module -   480: High-capacity path -   490: Lower-capacity path -   500: First communication path -   520: Source transmitter -   528: Modulated carrier signal to server -   540: Server receiver -   542: Baseband signal (warped) -   560: Interfaces to client-devices -   585: Modulated carrier signals to clients -   600: Second communication path -   628: Modulated carrier signal to server -   642: Baseband signal (de-warped) -   685: Modulated carrier signals to clients -   700: Third communication path -   720: Source transmitter -   728: Modulated carrier signal to server -   740: Server receiver -   742: Baseband signal (warped, compressed) -   785: Modulated carrier signals to clients -   800: Fourth communication path -   828: Modulated carrier signal to server -   842: Baseband signal (de-warped, compressed) -   885: Modulated carrier signals to clients -   900: Source video signal (312, 322, 342, or 343) -   905: Control data from panoramic multimedia source -   925: Control data to panoramic multimedia source -   935: Upstream control signals from client devices -   940: Edited multimedia signals to client devices -   945: Downstream control signals to client devices -   1000: Components of a server -   1005: All data from/to sources and client devices -   1008: At least one dual link to network -   1010: Server-network interface -   1022: Source control-data module -   1024: Source signal-processing module -   1026: Client control-data module -   1060: Client-specific adaptation module -   1061: Client control bus -   1090: Combiner of edited multimedia signals -   1120: Content-filtering module; also called “content filter” for     brevity -   1122: Content-filtered video signal -   1132: Content-filtered transcoded video signal -   1140: Transcoding module -   1142: Transcoded content-filtered video signal -   1152: Transcoded video signal -   1160: Server compression module -   1220: Mean bit rate -   1225: Effective bit rate -   1230: Specified peak bit rate -   1300: Selective-viewing options -   1320: Frame-sampling module -   1322: Full-coverage frame-sampled signal -   1340: Spatial-temporal server compression module -   1342: Full-coverage compressed signal -   1360: Spatial-temporal server compression module -   1362: Succession of pre-selected content-filtered signals -   1364: Succession of partial-coverage signals -   1402: Message from client to server requesting server -   1404: Message from client to server defining a selected view region -   1440: Compressed content-filtered video signal from server to client -   1520: Mean bit rate of compressed video signal -   1525: Effective bit rate of compressed video signal -   1600: Basic components of signal-editing module -   1610: Content-filtering stage -   1612: Selected content -   1630: Signal-processing unit -   1650: Conditioned multimedia signals to a set of client devices -   1710: Server-network interface -   1720: Content identifier -   1725: Decompression module and/or de-warping module -   1840: Transcoding module -   1842: Signal adapted to a client device -   1860: Flow-rate adaptation modules -   1861: Buffer for holding a data block -   1862: Memory device storing processor-executable instruction for     flow-rate adaptation -   1900: Exemplary implementation of a signal-editing module -   1922: Buffer for holding a data block of a content-filtered signal -   1923: memory device storing processor executable instructions which     cause a processor to modify the frame rate and/or resolution -   2000: Processes of video signal editing for a target client device -   2012: Identifier of a preferred view region -   2014: Traffic-performance measurements -   2016: Nominal frame rate and frame resolution -   2030: Server compression module -   2040: Module for determining a permissible flow rate as well as a     frame rate and frame resolution, compatible with a target client     device -   2050: Transmitter -   2052: Video signal together with accompanying multimedia signals     (such as audio signals and/or text) and control signals -   2060: Network path -   2110: Process of determining requisite flow rate at the display     device of the target client device -   2120: process of determining a permissible flow rate (reference     2122) between the server and the target client device -   2122: Permissible flow rate -   2130: Process of determining requisite compression ratio -   2140: Process of determining whether a compression ratio is     acceptable -   2150: Module for determining a revised frame rate and or resolution -   2152: Revised frame rate and/or a revised resolution -   2210: Memory device storing client-device characterizing data -   2220: Memory device storing software instructions for interacting     with specific servers -   2230: Client transmitter -   2240: Client receiver -   2242: Interface module -   2250: Processor -   2260: Memory device holding data blocks of incoming multimedia data -   2270: Client decompression module -   2280: Memory for holding blocks of display data -   2290: Display device -   2314: Dual control path between a source 110 and a server 120 -   2412: Network path -   2512: dual control path carrying control signals 905 from the source     110 to the server 120 and control signals 925 from the server 120 to     the source 110 -   2525: multimedia payload signal path from a server 120 to a client     device 180 -   2526: Dual control path between a server 120 and a client device -   2545: Automaton associated with a client device -   2610: At least one hardware processor -   2620: A set of modules devised to process a received panoramic video     signal 900 -   2621: Signal-filtering module -   2640: Client-device related modules -   2641: Client profile database -   2642: Client-device characterization module -   2643: Module for signal adaptation to client device -   2651: Server-source interface -   2652: Source characterization module -   2660: Client-specific modules -   2661: Server-client interface -   2662: Module for signal adaptation to client environment -   2663: Module for signal adaptation to client viewing preference -   2725: Learning module -   2820: Decompression modules and de-warping modules -   2830: Module employing at least one respective hardware processor     for signal adaptation to client-device type -   2925: Memory device storing predefined partial-coverage definitions -   2940: Module for signal adaptation to client's device -   3010: Process of acquiring a panoramic multimedia signal from a     selected panoramic multimedia source -   3012: Process of filtering a source video signal to offset     degradation caused by noise and delay jitter -   3014: Process of decompression of a source video signal if the     signal has been compressed at source -   3018: Process of video signal de-warping if the signal has not been     de-warped at source -   3020: Process of receiving a service request from a client -   3022: Process of adapting a pure video signal to characteristics of     a client's device -   3026: Process of compressing a video signal adapted to     characteristics of a client device -   3028: Process of signal transmission to a client device -   3030: A control signal from the client specifying a preferred view     region -   3032: Process of ascertaining viewing preference -   3034: Process of content filtering -   3000: Method of acquisition of a panoramic multimedia signal and     adapting the acquired multimedia signal to individual clients -   3100: A variation of method 3000 -   3200: Streaming-control table -   3300: Process of adaptation of a video-signal for a specific client     device -   3310: Process of receiving from a client device a request for     service at client-interface module -   3312: Process of identifying type of client device -   3314: Process of determining prior identification of client device -   3316: Process of identifying an existing stream category     corresponding to a client device type -   3320: Process of creating a new stream category for a new device     type -   3322: Process of adapting a pure video signal to device type -   3324: Process of recording new stream category -   3326: Process of selecting an existing stream or creating a new     stream -   3330: Process of signal transmission to a specific client device -   3400: Table indicating a count of viewing options for each type of     client devices -   3500: Processes of flow-rate control based on signal-content changes     and performance metrics -   3510: Process of receiving performance measurements -   3512: Process of computing performance metrics based on the     performance measurements -   3514: Process of determining whether a current performance is     acceptable -   3520: Process of receiving definition of a new content -   3522: Process of filtering content of a pure video signal according     to received definition of the new content -   3524: Process of determining flow-rate requirement corresponding to     the new content -   3540: process of determining whether to enforce a current     permissible flow rate in signal encoding or to acquire a new     (higher) permissible flow rate from a network controller -   3542: Process of enforcing a current flow rate -   3544: Process of communicating with a network controller to acquire     an enhanced permissible flow rate -   3550: Process of signal encoding under constraint of a permissible     flow rate (current or enhanced) -   3600: Flow-control system of a universal streaming server -   3610: Flow controller -   3612: content-definition parameters (content selection parameters) -   3616: performance measurements -   3625: Server-network interface -   3630: Processor of a flow controller -   3635: Module for determining a preferred flow rate (Module 3635 may     implement processes 3500) -   3650: Partial-content signal (content-filtered signal) -   3640: Encoder of partial-content signal 3650 -   3660: Compressed signal transmitted to the client device -   3700: Combined processes of content filtering and signal flow-rate     adaptation -   3710: Process of receiving control data from client devices in the     form of content-definition parameters and performance measurements. -   3720: Process of examining content-definition parameters received     from a client device to determine whether content-change is due -   3730: Process of determining a preferred flow rate -   3740: Process of determining whether a flow-rate change is needed -   3750: Process of communicating requisite flow rate to an encoder -   3760: Process of communicating content-definition parameters to     content filter -   3770: An imposed artificial delay to ensure that received client's     control data correspond to the changed signal content -   3822: Processor dedicated to a content filter -   3824: Software instructions causing processor 3822 to extract a     partial-content signal from a full-content signal -   3826: Buffer holding blocks of full-content signals -   3828: Buffer holding blocks of partial-content signals -   3860: Updated content signal -   3900: Initial processes performed at a server to start a streaming     session -   3910: Process of receiving a compressed full-content signal from a     signal source -   3915: Process of decompressing the full-content signal to recover     the original signal generated at source -   3920: Process of receiving a connection request from a client device -   3925: Process of determining whether connection request specifies     content-definition parameters -   3930: Process of specifying default content-definition parameters -   3940: Process of extracting a partial-content signal based on     default content-definition parameters or specified     content-definition parameters -   3950: Process of determining whether a flow rate for the extracted     signal is specified in the connection request -   3955: Process of providing a default flow rate to an encoder -   3960: Process of signal encoding at a specified flow rate -   3970: Transmitting an encoded signal to a target client device -   4000: A method of adaptive modification of content and flow rate of     an encoded signal -   4010: Process of receiving content preference from an automaton     associated with a client device -   4020: Process of determining whether content-change is requested -   4030: Process of extracting a partial-content signal from the     full-content signal -   4040: Process of signal encoding at a nominal encoding rate -   4050: Process of determining encoding rate based on performance data -   4060: Process of encoding content-specific signal at a preferred     encoding rate -   4070: Transmitting encoded content-specific flow-rate-controlled     signal to a target client device -   4100: Criteria of determining a preferred encoding rate of a signal -   4110: Maintaining a current permissible flow rate -   4120: Process of determining a permissible flow-rate based on     primary metrics -   4130: Process of determining a permissible flow-rate based on     secondary metrics -   4140: Process of determining a permissible flow-rate based on     primary metrics and secondary metrics -   4210: Process of determining primary metrics based on performance     data relevant to a client's receiver -   4220: Process of determining whether any primary metric is above a     respective acceptance interval -   4225: Process of determining a reduced permissible flow rate based     on the primary metrics -   4230: Process of determining a secondary metrics based on     performance data relevant to conditions of a network path from the     server to a client's device -   4240: Process of determining whether any secondary metric is above a     respective acceptance interval -   4245: Process of determining a reduced permissible flow rate based     on the secondary metrics -   4250: Process of determining whether each primary metric is below     its predefined acceptance interval and each secondary metric is     below its predefined acceptance interval -   4255: State of maintaining a current encoding rate -   4260: Process of determining a new encoding rate based on the     primary and secondary metrics -   4280: Process of communicating requisite encoding rate to a     respective encoder -   4310: Process of receiving a full-content signal at a server -   4320: Process of creating a register for holding parameters of     already extracted partial-content signals -   4330: Process of receiving parameters defining partial-content of     the full-content signal from a specific client -   4340: Process of examining the register to ascertain presence, or     otherwise, of a previously extracted partial-content signal -   4350: Process of selecting either process 4360 or 4370 -   4360: Process of providing access to a matching partial-content     signal -   4370: Process of extracting a new partial-content signal according     to new content-definition parameters -   4380: Process of adding new content-definition parameters to the     register for future use -   4390: Process of directing a partial-content signal an encoder -   4420: Buffer holding data blocks generated by a signal-editing     module 460 -   4450: Multiplexer -   4460: Multiple content-filtered streams -   4540: A router-switch connecting to at least one server and/or other     router-switches -   4541: An input port of a router-switch 4540 -   4542: An output port of a router-switch 4540 -   4600: Prior-art system for selective content broadcasting -   4610: One of multiple signal sources each signal source including a     camera operator, a camera, and a communication transmitter which may     include an antenna or a cable access—a signal source may be     stationary or mobile -   4612: A camera operator -   4614: A camera -   4616: A transmitter coupled to an antenna or cable access -   4620: Transmission medium -   4630: A receiver and decompression module with multiple output     channels at a broadcasting station -   4640: Baseband signal, acquired from receiver 4630, corresponding to     a respective signal source 4610 -   4650: One of multiple display devices -   4660: A content-selection unit for selecting one of baseband signals     fed to the display devices 4650 -   4662: An operator viewing the display screens 4650 to select a     corresponding baseband signal 4640 -   4664: Manually operated selector (switcher) for directing one of the     baseband signals produced at the output of the receiver 4630 to a     transmitter -   4680: Transmitter -   4690: Channels to broadcasting stations and/or a Universal Streaming     Servers -   4700: Arrangement for producing operator-defined multimedia content     for broadcasting -   4710: Panoramic multimedia signal source -   4712: Source signal (modulated carrier) -   4714: Source processing unit -   4715: Module for inserting in each frame data block a respective     cyclic frame number -   4716: Source transmitter -   4718: Transmission medium -   4720: Acquisition module -   4725: An operator wearing a virtual-reality (VR) headset to view a     panoramic display -   4730: Pure multimedia signal -   4732: Signal descriptor -   4740: Content selector for broadcasting -   4750: Virtual-reality headset (VR headset) extracting, from a pure     multimedia signal 4730, a filtered signal corresponding to     operator's preferred angle of viewing -   4752: Control signals between the VR headset and a content-filter     defining a view-region -   4760: Content filter -   4764: content-filtered signal -   4770: At least one panoramic-display device for received 4π video     signal -   4800: First streaming and broadcasting system -   4804: Broadcasting subsystem -   4808: Streaming subsection -   4810: Repeater; basically an amplifier and physical (not content)     signal processing -   4820: Streaming apparatus -   4812: Transmission medium -   4862: Compression module -   4864: Compressed content-filtered signal -   4870: Transmitter -   4880: Channel to broadcasting station -   4890: Channel to network 150 -   4940: Receiver -   4943: Source multimedia signal -   4946: Selector of a pure-signal generator 4950 -   4947: Output selector -   4950: Pure-signal generators -   5090: External display -   5100: Broadcasting subsystem of system 4800 for selective content     broadcasting -   5120: Monitoring facility -   5200: Broadcasting subsystem for selective content broadcasting     using an augmented content selector having a content buffer -   5210: Augmented content selector -   5220: Content-filter controller -   5222: Frame identifier -   5230: Content buffer (a circular buffer) -   5240: Distant content selector -   5250: Communication path to augmented content selector -   5260: Transmission medium -   5270: Control signals from distant content selector 5240 to     augmented content selector 5210 -   5400: Data exchange between the augmented content selector 5210 and     the distant content selector 5240 -   5410: Frame data block -   5420: Control data from distant content selector 5240 -   5430: Frame period (for example 20 milliseconds for a frame rate of     50 frames per second) -   5440: Transfer delay of multimedia signals from the augmented     content selector 5210 to the distant content selector 5240 -   5450: Latency of the VR headset 4750 -   5460: Transfer delay of control signals 5270 from the distant     content selector 5240 to the augmented content selector 5210 -   5500: Frame-data flow through content buffer 5630 -   5510: Frame-data blocks held in content buffer 5230 -   5520: Address of a frame data block in content buffer 5230 -   5600: A second system for combined selective content broadcasting     and streaming -   5620: Routing facility -   5622: Transmission channel from signal source 4710 to routing     facility 5620 -   5624: Transmission channel from routing facility 5620 to network     5630 -   5626: Transmission channel from network 5630 to routing facility     5620 -   5628: Transmission channel from routing facility 5620 to a     broadcasting station 5680 -   5630: Shared network (the Internet, for example) -   5640: Remote content controller -   5644: Channel from network 5630 to content controller -   5646: Channel from distant content selector to network 5630 -   5651: Modulated carrier from routing facility 5620 directed to     distant content selector 5640 through network 5630 -   5652: Modulated carrier from routing facility 5520 directed to     server 120 through a cloud computing network 5670 -   5670: Cloud computing network -   5680: Broadcasting station (Television Station) -   5710: Repeater for carrier signal directed to server 120 and distant     content selector 5240 -   5770: Receiver -   5810: Frame-number extraction module -   5812: Frame-number insertion module -   5820: Refresh module -   5925: A bank of content filters 5932 -   5932: Content filter -   5940: Baseband signal—output of a content filter 5932 -   6000: Method of selective content broadcasting relevant to the     system of FIG. 51 -   6100: Method of selective content broadcasting relevant to the     system of FIG. 59 -   6200: Method of combined broadcasting and streaming relevant to the     system of FIG. 47. -   6210: Process of receiving modulated carrier signal 4712 from     panoramic multimedia source 4710 -   6212: Process of acquiring a pure multimedia signal 4730     (acquisition module 4720) -   6214: Process of generating operator-defined content-filtered     multimedia signal 4764 -   6220: Process of transmitting content-filtered signals to a     broadcasting facility and a Universal Streaming Server -   6230: Process of relaying modulated carrier signal 4712 to streaming     subsystem -   6240: Process of acquiring pure multimedia signal 4730 at streaming     subsystem -   6242: Process of sending the full content of the pure multimedia     signal, at a reduced flow rate, to client devices accessing     Universal Streaming Server -   6244: Process of receiving client-specific viewing preferences -   6246: Produce content-filtered signals according to viewers     preferences -   6248: Process of retaining operator-defined and viewers-defined     content-filtered signals for further use -   6320: Process of receiving a source signal (a modulated carrier     signal) 4712 at content selector 4740 -   6330: Process of acquiring a pure multimedia signal 4730 from the     source signal -   6340: Process of displaying a multimedia signal (including a     video-signal component) -   6342: Process of initializing a gaze position as a null position -   6344: Process of determining a current gaze position from an output     of a virtual-reality headset -   6346: Process of determining a displacement of a current gaze     position from a reference gaze position -   6348: Process of selecting a subsequent process (process 6350 or     process 6370) according to value of gaze-position displacement -   6350: Process of updating a reference gaze position -   6360: Process of generating and storing view-region definition     corresponding to a reference gaze position and a predefined contour     around the reference gaze position -   6370: Process of extracting a content-filtered signal 4764 from a     pure multimedia signal 4730 -   6372: Process of compressing a content-filtered signal before     broadcasting -   6374: Process of transmitting a content-filtered signal (compressed     or otherwise) -   6380: Process of observing a subsequent gaze position and repeating     process 6344 to 6374 -   6410: Process of receiving a source signal (a modulated carrier     signal) 4712 at distant content selector 5240 -   6420: Process of initializing a gaze position as a null position -   6430: Process of acquiring a pure multimedia signal 4730 from the     source signal 4712 at distant content selector 5240 -   6440: Process of displaying a multimedia signal at distant content     selector 5240 -   6450: Processes performed at Refresh module 5820 collocated with     distant content selector 5240 (FIG. 58) -   6452: Process of determining a cyclic frame number -   6454: Process of determining a current gaze position from an output     of a virtual-reality headset of the distant content selector 5240 -   6456: Process of determining a displacement of a current gaze     position 6454 from a reference gaze position -   6458: Process of selecting a subsequent process (process 6470 or     process 6474) according to value of gaze-position displacement -   6470: Process of updating a reference gaze position -   6472: Process of forming a control message containing a frame     identifier and a reference gaze position -   6474: Process of forming a control message containing a frame     identifier and a Null gaze position -   6478: Process of transmitting the control message of process 6472 or     6474 to augmented content selector 5210 -   6500: Processes performed at augmented content selector 5210 -   6510: Process of receiving a new gaze position and a corresponding     frame identifier from distant content selector 5240 -   6512: Received frame identifier -   6520: Process of determining an address of a frame data block in     content buffer 5230 -   6530: Process of reading a frame data block 5232 -   6540: Process of selecting process 6550 or process 6560 -   6550: Process of generating and storing view-region definition based     on new gaze position and a predefined region shape (contour) at     augmented content selector 5210 -   6560: Process of generating a content-filtered signal 4764 based on     latest view-region definition when a control message includes a null     gaze position indicating change, or an insignificant change, of gaze     position -   6562: Process of compressing a content-filtered signal at a routing     facility 5620 (FIG. 57) supporting the augmented content selector     5210 -   6564: Process of transmitting the compressed content-filtered signal     from the routing facility -   6580: Process of receiving a subsequent content-selection data (new     gaze position and frame identifier) from refresh module 5820 which     is coupled to the distant content selector 5240

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A conventional streaming server performs multimedia signal adaptation and distribution to individual client devices. With panoramic multimedia-signals, a high-capacity path need be established between the multimedia source and the streaming server, and paths of adaptive capacities need be established between the streaming server and multiple client devices.

The streaming server may acquire performance metrics of a connection between the streaming server and a client device and adjust the flow rate allocated to the connection according to the performance metrics. If the connection is allocated a guaranteed constant flow rate, for example through a dedicated link or reserved capacity of a network path, the performance metrics would depend on the value of the constant flow rate and the characteristics of the client device. If the connection is allocated a nominal flow rate, for example through shared links of a network, the performance metrics would depend on the value of the nominal flow rate, the fluctuation of the intensity of network data traffic from other data sources, and the characteristics of the client device.

The streaming server may also be configured to process a signal received from a panoramic multimedia source to derive signals of partial content. The streaming server of the present invention may receive a signal from a source containing a full coverage panoramic video signal covering a solid angle of 4π steradians and derive a signal of partial coverage. With such capability, a person viewing a display of the video signal may select, using an input device, a specific partial coverage according to the person's viewing preference. The information content of the preferred video signal depends largely on the selected coverage. Thus, the performance metrics would depend on the value of the nominal flow rate, the fluctuation of the intensity of network data traffic from other data sources, the characteristics of the client device, and the selected information content.

Instead of specifying a nominal flow rate, a viewer may specify a fidelity level and information content. The multimedia server may translate the fidelity level into a requisite flow rate.

A streaming server providing both content selection and flow-rate adaptation to receiver and network conditions is herein referenced as a universal streaming server.

FIG. 1 illustrates a streaming system 100 comprising a panoramic multimedia source 110 coupled to a universal streaming server 120 through a transmission medium 115. Transmission medium 115 may be a dedicated medium, such as a fiber-optic link or a wireless link, or may be a switched path through a shared telecommunication network. The panoramic multimedia server may communicate with a plurality of client devices 180, individually identified as 180(0) to 180(m), m>1, through a network 150. The panoramic multimedia source 110 comprises a full-coverage camera and may comprise a de-warping module and/or a compression module. A full-coverage camera, herein also called a 4π camera, produces a full-coverage video signal. A multimedia signal, herein referenced as a “source multimedia signal”, transmitted from the panoramic multimedia source 110 to universal streaming server 120 may contain a video signal in addition to signals of other forms such as an audio signal or a text signal.

FIG. 2 illustrates a streaming system 200 comprising a number ν, ν≧1, of panoramic multimedia sources 110, individually identified as 110(0) to 110(ν−1), and a number μ of universal streaming servers, μ≧1, individually identified as 120(0) to 120(μ−1) which may concurrently serve a number M, M>1, of client devices of a plurality of client devices 180. The universal streaming servers 120 may communicate with the panoramic multimedia sources 110 and the client devices through network 150. Alternatively, the universal streaming servers 120 may communicate with the panoramic multimedia sources 110 through one shared network (not illustrated) but communicate with the client devices 180 through another network (not illustrated).

A multimedia panoramic source 110 preferably employs a full-coverage panoramic camera, herein referenced as a 4π camera, providing view coverage of up to 4π steradians. An output signal of a 4π camera is herein referenced as a 4π video signal. A display of a 4π video signal of a captured scene on a flat screen may differ significantly from the actual scene due to inherent warping. To eliminate or significantly reduce the display distortion, an artificial offset distortion may be applied to the camera-produced signal so that the display closely resembles a captured scene. Numerous processes, called “de-warping”, for correcting the distorted video signal are known in the art.

The de-warping process may be implemented at source, i.e., directly applied to a camera's output signal, or implemented at the universal streaming server 120.

The video signal at a source 110 may be sent directly to a universal streaming server 120 over a high-capacity communication path or compressed at source to produce a compressed signal, occupying a (much) reduced spectral band, which is sent to a universal streaming server 120 over a lower-capacity communication path to be decompressed at the universal streaming server.

FIG. 3 illustrates four communication options between a multimedia panoramic source 110 and a server 120. The multimedia panoramic source includes a 4π camera which produces a raw signal 312 and may include a de-warping module 330 and/or a source compression module 340. The raw signal 312 need be de-warped before display or before further processing to condition the signal to specific recipients.

Communication devices coupled to the source are not illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a first source comprises the 4π camera, a second source comprises the 4π camera and a de-warping module 330, a third source comprises the 4π camera and a source compression module 340, and a fourth source comprises the 4π camera, a de-warping module 330, and a source compression module 340.

According to one embodiment, the raw signal 312 may be sent to a server 120A equipped with a de-warping module 320 which produces a corrected signal 322 which is further processed to produce recipient-specific signals. The corrected signal is considered a “pure video signal” which corresponds to the respective scene captured at source.

According to another embodiment, the raw signal 312 may be processed at a de-warping module 330 coupled to the source 110 to produce a corrected signal (pure video signal) 322 which is sent to a server 120B for further processing to produce recipient-specific signals.

According to a further embodiment, the raw signal 312 may be processed at a source compression module 340 coupled to the source 110 to produce a compressed signal 342 which is sent to a server 120C. Server 120C is equipped with a server decompression module 350 which decompresses compressed signal 342 to produce a decompressed signal 352 to be processed at de-warping module 320 to produce a rectified signal 324. The rectified signal is a “pure video signal” as defined above. With a lossless compression process and an ideal decompression process, the decompressed signal 352 would be a replica of raw signal 312. With ideal de-warping, rectified signal 324 would be a faithful representation of the captured scenery.

According to a further embodiment, the raw signal 312 may be processed at a de-warping module 330 coupled to the source 110 to produce a corrected signal 322 which is processed at a source compression module 340 to produce a compact signal 343 to be sent to a server 120D. Server 120D is equipped with a server decompression module 350 which decompresses compact signal 343 to produce a rectified signal 324. With an ideal de-warping module 330, a lossless compression process, and an ideal decompression process, the rectified signal would be a faithful representation of the captured scenery, i.e., a “pure video signal”.

Thus, the present invention provides a method of video-signal streaming implemented at a server which comprises multiple physical processors and associated memory devices. The server is devised to acquire a panoramic multimedia signal comprising a video signal from:

-   -   (1) a signal source comprising a panoramic camera;     -   (2) a signal source comprising a panoramic camera and a         de-warping module;     -   (3) a signal source comprising a panoramic camera and a         compression module; or     -   (4) a signal source comprising a panoramic camera, a de-warping         module, and a compression module.

The method comprises a process of accessing a panoramic multimedia source to acquire a video signal. If the acquired video signal is uncompressed and has not been de-warped at source, the video signal is de-warped at the server to produce a “pure video signal” which may be displayed on a screen or further processed for distribution to client devices. If the acquired video signal is uncompressed and has been de-warped at source, the video signal constitutes a “pure video signal”. If the acquired video signal has been compressed but not de-warped at source, the video signal is decompressed then de-warped at the server to produce a “pure video signal. If the acquired video signal has been de-warped and compressed at source, the video signal is decompressed at the server to produce a “pure video signal.

FIG. 4 illustrates communication paths corresponding to the communication options of FIG. 3.

According to the first communication option, a panoramic signal produced at a 4π camera 310, of panoramic multimedia source module 110A, is transmitted over a high-capacity path 480 to server 120A which comprises a de-warping module 320 and a signal-editing module 460 which performs both content filtering and signal adaptation to client devices under flow-rate constraints. Server 120A comprises at least one processor (not illustrated in FIG. 4) and memory devices storing processor executable instructions (software instructions) organized as the de-warping module 320 and the signal-editing module 460. The software instructions of de-warping module 320 are executed to cause the at least one processor to use the received signal and known characteristics of the camera to produce a de-warped corrected signal 322 which may be directly presented to a flat display device or further processed in signal-editing module 460. Signal-editing module 460 may perform content filtering processes to produce selective partial-coverage streams, each tailored to a respective recipient. Signal-editing module 460 may also produce full-coverage streams each tailored to a respective recipient.

According to the second communication option, source module 110B comprises a 4π camera 310, a de-warping module 330, and a processor (not illustrated) applying software instructions of de-warping module 330 to the output signal (raw signal 312) of the 4π camera. The resulting de-warped signal is sent over a high-capacity communication path 480 to server 120B which comprises a signal-editing module 460 as in the first implementation option above.

According to the third communication option, source module 110C comprises a 4π camera 310, a source compression module 340, and a processor (not illustrated) applying software instructions of source compression module 340 to the output signal (raw signal 312) of the 4π camera. The resulting compressed signal 342 is sent over a communication path 490, of a lower-capacity compared to communication path 480, to server 120C which comprises a server decompression module 350, a de-warping module 320, and signal-editing module 460. Server 120C comprises at least one processor (not illustrated) which implements software instructions of server decompression module 350 to produce decompressed signal 352. The at least one processor also implements software instructions of the de-warping module 320 to produce a rectified signal 324. Signal-editing module 460 performs content filtering of rectified signal 324 to produce selective partial-coverage streams, each tailored to a respective recipient. Signal-editing module 460 may also produce full-coverage streams each tailored to a respective recipient.

According to the fourth communication option, source module 110D comprises a 4π camera 310, a de-warping module 330, a source compression module 340, and a processor (not illustrated) applying software instructions of the de-warping module 330 to the output signal (raw signal 312) of the 4π camera to produce a corrected signal 322. The processor applies the software instructions of the source compression module 340 to produce a compact signal 343. The compact signal 343 is sent over a lower-capacity communication path 490 to server 120D which comprises a server decompression module 350 and the signal-editing module 460. Server 120D comprises at least one processor (not illustrated) which implements software instructions of server decompression module 350 to reconstruct the corrected signal 322. As in the previous communication options, signal-editing module 460 performs content filtering of rectified signal 324 to produce selective partial-coverage streams, each tailored to a respective recipient. Signal-editing module 460 may also produce full-coverage streams each tailored to a respective recipient.

With the first or second communication option, a corrected video signal 322 is presented to a signal-editing module 460. With the third or fourth communication options, a rectified video signal 324 is presented to a signal-editing module 460. Each of the corrected video signal 322 and the rectified video signal 324 is considered a pure video signal corresponding to a respective scene captured at source.

FIG. 5 illustrates components of an end-to-end path 500 corresponding to the first communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3. Source 110A produces (baseband) raw signal 312 which is transmitted over high-capacity path 480 to server 120A. The high-capacity path 480 comprises a source transmitter 520 collocated with source 110A, transmission medium 115, and server receiver 540 collocated with server 120A. Receiver 540 demodulates modulated carrier signal 528 received through transmission medium 115 to acquire a replica 542 of the raw signal 312. Server 120A comprises a memory device storing software instructions constituting de-warping module 320 and a memory device storing software instructions constituting signal-editing module 460. Server 120A also comprises client-devices interfaces 560 which include server transmitters. Output signals 585 of server 120A are communicated through network 150 to respective client devices 180.

FIG. 6 illustrates components of an end-to-end path 600 corresponding to the second communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3. Source 110B comprises 4π camera 310 and a memory device storing software instructions constituting de-warping module 330 which cause a processor (not illustrated) to produce corrected signal 322. Corrected signal 322 is transmitted over high-capacity path 480 to server 120B. The high-capacity path 480 comprises a source transmitter 520 collocated with source 110B, transmission medium 115, and server receiver 540 collocated with server 120B. Receiver 540 demodulates modulated carrier signal 628 received through transmission medium 115 to acquire a replica 642 of the corrected signal 322. Server 120B comprises a memory device storing software instructions constituting signal-editing module 460. Server 120B also comprises client-devices interfaces 560 which include server transmitters. Output signals 685 of server 120B are communicated through network 150 to respective client devices 180.

FIG. 7 illustrates components of an end-to-end path 700 corresponding to the third communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3. Source 110C comprises 4π camera 310, which produces (baseband) raw signal 312, and a memory device storing software instructions constituting source compression module 340. Source compression module 340 compresses raw signal 312 into compressed signal 342 which is transmitted over path 490 to server 120C. Path 490 comprises a source transmitter 720 collocated with source 110C, transmission medium 115, and server receiver 740 collocated with server 120C. Receiver 740 demodulates modulated carrier signal 728 received through transmission medium 115 to acquire a replica 742 of compressed signal 342. Server 120C comprises a memory device storing software instructions constituting server decompression module 350, a memory device storing software instructions constituting de-warping module 320, and a memory device storing software instructions constituting signal-editing module 460. Server 120C also comprises client-devices interfaces 560 which include server transmitters. Output signals 785 of server 120C are communicated through network 150 to respective client devices 180.

FIG. 8 illustrates components of an end-to-end path 800 corresponding to the fourth communication option of the communication options of FIG. 3. Source 110D comprises 4π camera 310, a memory device storing software instructions constituting de-warping module 330 which cause a processor (not illustrated) to produce corrected signal 322, and a memory device storing software instructions constituting source compression module 340 which cause a processor (not illustrated) to produce compact signal 343. Compact signal 343 is transmitted over path 490 to server 120D. Path 490 comprises a source transmitter 720 collocated with source 110D, transmission medium 115, and server receiver 740 collocated with server 120C. Receiver 740 demodulates modulated carrier signal 828 received through transmission medium 115 to acquire a replica 842 of compact signal 343. Server 120D comprises a memory device storing software instructions constituting server decompression module 350, and a memory device storing software instructions constituting signal-editing module 460. Server 120D also comprises client-devices interfaces 560 which include server transmitters. Output signals 885 of server 120D are communicated through network 150 to respective client devices 180.

FIG. 9 illustrates multimedia signals and control signals at input and output of a universal streaming server 120. The server 120 receives from a source 110 a multimedia signal including a video signal 900 which may be a raw signal 312, a corrected signal 322, a compressed signal 342, or a compact signal 343. A video signal received at a server from a source 110 is herein referenced as a “source video signal”.

The server 120 may receive multimedia signals from different panoramic multimedia sources 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The server may, therefore receive a raw video signal 312 from a first source 110, a corrected video signal 322 from a second source 110, a compressed signal 342 from a third source, and/or a compact signal 343 from a fourth source. Preferably, then, the server may be equipped with a de-warping module 320 and a server decompression module 350 to be able to engage with sources 110 of different types and produce a pure video signal 420 which may be a corrected video signal 322 or a rectified video signal 324.

The server 120 receives upstream control signals 935 from client devices 180 and control signals 905 from sources 110. The server transmits downstream control signals 945 to client devices and may transmit control signals 925 to the source 110. Regardless of the source type, the kernel of the server, which is signal-editing module 460, processes the pure video signal 420 based on control signals 935 and 905.

The upstream control signals 935 may include clients' characterizing data and clients' requests. The downstream control signals 945 may include responses to clients' requests. The downstream control signals 945 may also include software modules to be installed at client devices 180 to enable each subtending client device to communicate preferred viewing regions to the server. Control signals 905 may include data relevant to source characteristics and operations already performed at source, such as de-warping and/or data compression. Control signals 925 may include information characterizing the server.

The signal-editing module 460 of the server 120 produces edited multimedia signals 940, each edited multimedia signal being individually conditioned to: viewing preference of a respective client; capability of a respective client's device; and condition of a network path from the server to the respective client's device. The server 120 transmits to client devices the edited multimedia signals 940.

FIG. 10 illustrates components 1000 of an exemplary server 120. The server comprises at least one processor (not illustrated) and multiple memory devices storing processor executable instructions organized into a number of modules including a server-network interface 1010, a source control-data module 1022, a source signal-processing module 1024, a client control-data module 1026, and a set of client-specific adaptation modules 1060. The server-network interface 1010 is coupled to at least one dual link 1008 to at least one network which carries all signals 1005 originating from, or destined to, signal sources and client devices. The server-network interface 1010 comprises a server receiver 540 (FIG. 5 and FIG. 6) or 740 (FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) which demodulates a modulated carrier (optical carrier or wireless microwave carrier) to detect the baseband source video signal 900 (raw signal 312, corrected signal 322, compressed signal 342, or compact signal 343) sent from a source 110 (110A, 110B, 110C, or 110D). A dual link of the at least one dual link 1008 carries: control data to and from at least one source 110 and a plurality of client devices; source multimedia signals; and edited multimedia signals directed to the plurality of client devices.

The source video-signal-processing module 1024 may be equipped with a de-warping module 320 and/or a server decompression module 350 to produce a pure video signal 420 which may be a corrected video signal 322 or a rectified video signal 324.

Server-network interface 1010 directs source video signals 900 to source video-signal-processing module 1024 and control signals 905 to source-control data processing module 1022. Source video-signal-processing module 1024 performs processes of:

-   -   (1) video-signal de-warping (module 320, FIG. 5);     -   (2) video-signal decompression (module 350) and de-warping         (module 320, FIG. 7); or     -   (3) video-signal decompression (module 350, FIG. 8).

Modules 1022 and 1024 are communicatively coupled as indicated in FIG. 10. Outputs of module 1022 may influence processes of module 1024. Module 1024 may generate control data 925 directed to a source 110 to be communicated through module 1022 and server-network interface 1010.

Module 1024 directs pure video signals 420 to a number m, m>1, of client-specific adaptation modules 1060, individually identified as 1060(0) to 1060(m−1). Client-specific adaptation modules 1060 preferably employ independent hardware processors. Each client-specific adaptation module 1060 comprises a memory device storing instructions which cause a respective processor to perform requisite transcoding functions.

The signals received from client devices comprises upstream control signal 935. The data directed to client devices comprises control signals 945 and edited multimedia signals 940. Upstream control signals 935 are extracted at server-network interface 1010 and directed to clients' control-data module 1026. The client-specific adaptation modules 1060 access upstream control data 935 through a client control bus 1061, where client-specific control signals are held in buffers 1062, or through other means known in the art. Downstream control data generated at the client-specific adaptation modules 1060 are distributed to respective client devices 180 through client control bus 1061, client control-data module 1026, server-network interface 1010, and the at least one dual link 1008. The edited client-specific multimedia signals 940 are combined (combiner 1090) and the aggregate stream 1095 is distributed to respective client devices 180 through server-network interface 1010, the at least one dual link 1008, and at least one network.

FIG. 11 details a client-specific adaptation module 1060. The module comprises at least one memory device storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform processes of content filtering of a video signal to extract a signal corresponding to a selected view region and transcoding the content-filtered video signal to be compatible with the capability of a target client device 180. The video signal may be compressed under the constraint of a permissible flow rate which may be a representative value of a time-varying flow rate.

A client-specific adaptation module 1060 comprises a content-filtering module (content filter) 1120, a transcoding module 1140 for signal adaptation to client-device capability, and a server compression module 1160 for producing a video signal having a flow rate within a permissible flow rate.

In accordance with one embodiment, content filter 1120 processes the pure video signal 420 to extract signal portions which correspond to a specified view region yielding a content-filtered signal 1122. The mean flow rate of content-filtered signal 1122 would be lower than the mean flow rate of pure video signal 420. If content-filtered signal 1122 is compatible with the capability of a target client device and has a flow rate satisfying a respective permissible value, the signal may be transmitted to the target client device. Otherwise, transcoding module 1140 is applied to transcode content-filtered signal 1122 to be compatible with characteristics of the target client device such as an upper bound of a frame rate and a frame resolution upper bound. If the resulting transcoded content-filtered signal 1142 has a flow rate not exceeding the permissible value, signal 1142 may be transmitted to the target client device. Otherwise, server compression module 1160 may be applied to compress signal 1142 according to the permissible flow rate yielding signal 940 which is a compressed, transcoded, and content-filtered signal.

In accordance with another embodiment, transcoding module 1140 may be applied to transcode pure video signal 420 to yield a transcoded signal 1152 compatible with the capability of the target client device. Content filter 1120 processes signal 1152 to extract signal portions which correspond to a specified view region yielding a content-filtered transcoded signal 1132. The mean flow rate of content-filtered transcoded signal 1132 would be lower than the mean flow rate of pure video signal 420. If signal 1132 has a flow rate satisfying a permissible value, the signal may be transmitted to the target client device. Otherwise, server compression module 1160 may be applied to compress signal 1132 according to the permissible flow rate yielding signal 940 which is now a compressed, transcoded, and content-filtered signal.

An uncompressed or decompressed video signal which is de-warped at the source or at the server is a pure video signal. To provide service to a specific client device, the pure video signal is transcoded to produce a transcoded signal compatible with the client device. The pure video signal corresponds to an attainable coverage of a solid angle of up to 4π Steradians and is likely to have a large flow rate (bit rate), of multi Gb/s for example, which may exceed the available capacity of a path from the server to the client device. The transcoded signal may also have a flow rate that exceeds the capacity of the path. Thus, the transcoded signal may be compressed to yield a flow rate not exceeding the capacity of the path.

The compressed transcoded signal is transmitted to the client device to be decompressed and displayed at the client device. A viewer at the client device may then identify a preferred view region and send descriptors of the preferred view region to the server. The signal may then be content-filtered to retain only portions of the signal that correspond to the preferred view region. The content-filtered signal may be compressed then transmitted to the client device.

When the server accesses the panoramic multimedia source 110, the panoramic multimedia source provides a multimedia signal comprising the video signal as well control data including indications of any signal processing applied to the video signal, such as de-warping and compression. The acquired video signal is a panoramic video signal which may be produced by a single camera or produced by combining video signals from multiple cameras.

To enable a user of the client device to communicate identifiers of a preferred view region, the server sends to the client device a software module devised for this purpose. The server may be partially or entirely installed within a shared cloud-computing network where the physical processors and associated memory devices are allocated as the need arises.

FIG. 12 illustrates temporal variation of the flow rate (bit rate) of a compressed video signal. As well known in the art, a number of descriptors may be used to characterize a variable-flow-rate signal (also called a variable-bit-rate) such as a mean value 1220 and a peak value 1230 of the flow rate, and a parameter representing signal-burst duration. The descriptors and the capacity of a shared network path designated to transport the variable-bit-rate signal may be used to determine an effective flow rate (effective bit rate) 1225 which need be allocated in a communication path to transport the signal. Server compression module 1160 would be devised to ensure that the effective flow rate (effective bit rate) does not exceed a permissible flow rate of a (purchased) network connection.

FIG. 13 illustrates modules 1300 for generating time-limited video signals of reduced flow rates yet suitable for exhibiting panoramic full spatial coverage to enable a client receiving a time-limited video signal to select a preferred partial-coverage view.

Frame-sampling module 1320 comprises processor executable instructions which cause a processor to sample a pure video signal 420, or a transcoded video signal derived from the pure video signal, during distant frame intervals to produce a frame-sampled video signal 1322 corresponding to full spatial-coverage sampled images. Frame-sampled video signal 1322 is not compressed and has a constant flow rate not exceeding a permissible flow rate. The frame-sampled video signal 1322 may be displayed at a client device.

Pure video signal 420 may be a corrected signal 322 or a rectified signal 324 (FIG. 3). The inter-frame sampling period is selected so that the (constant) flow rate of the stream of sampled portions of a pure video signal 420 does not exceed a permissible flow rate. For example, if the data flow rate of a pure video signal 420 is 1 Gb/s and the permissible flow rate is 5 Mb/s, then frame-sampling module 1320 would select one frame out of each set of 200 successive frames. A specific client device 180 receiving the sampled frames would then display each frame repeatedly during a period of 200 frame intervals (5 seconds at a frame rate of 40 frames per second). The server 120 starts to send a respective edited multimedia signal 940 (FIG. 9) and terminates transmitting frame samples after the server receives an indication of a preferred view region from the specific client device.

The server 120 may send view-selection software instructions to each client device to facilitate client's selection of a preferred view region. The software instructions may be sent along the same path carrying downstream control data 945 (FIG. 9).

Thus, server 120 may employ a frame-sampling module comprising processor executable instructions which cause a processor to sample a video signal during distant frame intervals to produce a frame-sampled video signal. The server further comprises a memory device storing software modules for distribution to the plurality of client devices to enable users of the client devices to communicate identifications of preferred viewing regions to the server.

Spatial-temporal server compression module 1340 comprises processor executable instructions which cause a processor to compress pure video signal 420, or a transcoded video signal derived from the pure video signal, to produce a compressed signal 1342 corresponding to full spatial-coverage images. Compressed signal 1342 would have a fluctuating flow rate as illustrated in FIG. 12 and server compression module 1340 ensures that the effective flow rate (effective bit rate) does not exceed a permissible flow rate.

A spatial-temporal compression module 1360, similar to spatial-temporal server compression module 1340, causes a processor to compress preselected content-filtered signals (partial coverage signals) 1362 derived from a pure video signal 420. A succession of compressed content filtered signals 1364, occupying successive time windows, is sent to a target client device. Each of compressed signals 1364 would have a fluctuating flow rate as illustrated in FIG. 12 and compression module 1360 ensures that the effective flow rate (effective bit rate) of each compressed signal 1364 does not exceed a permissible flow rate.

FIG. 14 illustrates a process of providing a content-filtered video signal to a client device. At an instant of time t₁, a user of a specific client device 180 sends a message 1402 to a server 120 requesting viewing of a specific event. The message is received at the server 120 at time t₂. Several view-selection methods may be devised to enable a user of the specific client device to communicate identifiers of a preferred view region to the server.

In one view-selection method, the server sends a frame-sampled signal 1322, which corresponds to selected full spatial-coverage panoramic images, at time t₃. At time t₄, the client device 180 starts to receive frame-sampled signal 1322 which is submitted to a display device after accumulating content of one frame. At time t₅, the user of the specific client device sends a message 1404 providing parameters defining a selected view region. Message 1404 is received at the server at time t₆. The server 120 formulates a respective content filtered video signal corresponding to the selected view region. The respective content filtered video signal may be compressed to produce a compressed content-filtered signal (partial-spatial-coverage signal) 1440. The server terminates transmission of the frame-sampled signal 1322 at time t₇ and starts to send compressed content-filtered signal 1440 to the client device 180 at time t₉. Signal 1440 is decompressed and displayed at the client device. The client device receives the last frame of frame-sampled signal 1322 before time t₈ and starts to receive compressed signal 1440 at time t₁₀. Transmission of compressed signal 1440 ends at time t₁₁ and receiving the signal at the client device ends at time t₁₂.

In another view-selection method, the server generates a full-coverage video signal 1342 that is client-device compatible and compressed to a permissible flow rate as illustrated in FIG. 13. The server sends the signal 1342 at time t₃ and the client device 180 starts to receive the compressed signal at time t₄. The compressed signal 1342 is decompressed at the client device and submitted to a display device. The sequence of events after time t₄ would be similar to the sequence of events corresponding to the case of frame-sampled video signal 1322.

In a further view-selection method, the server derives from pure video signal 420 several content-filtered video signals 1362 corresponding to preselected view regions as illustrated in FIG. 13. Each of the derived content-filtered video signals would be compatible with the capability of the client device and compressed to a permissible flow rate. A succession of compressed signals 1364 may be sent to the client device and a user of the client device may send a message to the server indicating a preferred one of the preselected view regions.

Thus the present invention provides a method of signal streaming comprising editing content of the video signal to produce a set of content-filtered signals corresponding to a predefined set of view regions. Each content-filtered signal is transcoded to produce a set of transcoded signals compatible with a particular client device. Each of the transcoded signals is compressed to produce a set of compressed signals. The compressed signals are successively transmitted to the client device. Upon receiving from the particular client device an identifier of a specific compressed signal corresponding to a preferred view region, only the specific compressed signal is subsequently transmitted to the client device.

FIG. 15 illustrates temporal bit-rate variation (flow rate variation) of video signals transmitted from a server 120 to a client device 180. The bit rate of frame-sampled signal 1322 is constant and set at a value not exceeding a predefined permissible bit rate. The bit rate of compressed content-filtered signal 1440 is time variable. As well known in the art, a variable bit rate may be characterized by parameters such as a mean bit rate, a peak bit rate, and a mean data-burst length. The parameters, together with the capacity of a respective network path, may be used to determine an “effective bit rate” 1525 which is larger than the mean bit rate 1520. The formulation of the frame-sampled signal 1322 ensures that the resulting constant bit rate does not exceed the predefined permissible bit rate (which may be based on a service-level agreement or network constraints). The compression process at the server 120 is devised to ensure that the effective bit rate of the compressed signal 1440 does not exceed the permissible bit rate.

To provide service to a set client devices of a specific client device, the pure video signal may be transcoded to produce a transcoded signal compatible with the client-device type. The transcoded signal may have a flow rate that exceeds the capacity of some of the paths from the server to the client devices. To provide the client devices with a full-coverage (attainable-coverage) view, a signal sample of a reduced flow rate is generated and multicast to client devices. A signal sample may be a frame-sampled transcoded signal or a compressed transcoded signal. Upon receiving from a particular client device an identifier of a respective preferred view region, the transcoded signal is content-filtered to produce a client-specific signal corresponding to the respective preferred view region. The client-specific signal is compressed and transmitted to the particular client device.

Signal-Editing Module

FIG. 16 illustrates basic components 1600 of signal-editing module 460 (FIG. 4 to FIG. 8) of a server 120. In a first stage 1610, the pure video signal 420 is processed to produce a number K, K≧1, of content-filtered signals 1612. In a second stage 1620, each content-filtered signal 1612 is adapted to a respective client device or a group of client devices 180. Each content-filtered signal is directed to a respective signal-processing unit 1630 to produce a respective conditioned signal 1650 satisfying a number of conditions including upper bounds of frame-rate, resolution, and flow rate (bit rate). A conditioned signal 1650 may be suitable to multicast to a number of client devices. The content-filtered signals 1612 are individually identified as 1612(0) to 1612(K−1). The signal-processing units 1630 are individually identified as 1630(0) to 1630(K−1). The conditioned signals 1650 are individually identified as 1650(0) to 1650(K−1).

FIG. 17 illustrates a content-filtering stage 1610 comprising K content filters 1120, individually identified as 1120(0) to 1120(K−1), for concurrent generation of different partial-content signals from a full-content signal. A full-content signal 900 received through server-network interface 1710 may be decompressed and/or de-warped (modules 1725) to produce a pure video signal 420 which is routed to inputs of all content filters 1120. Parameters identifying requested contents are distributed to control inputs 1720 of the content filters 1120.

Each content filter 1120 is devised to cause a physical processor (not illustrated) to extract portions of pure video signal 420 which corresponds to a specified view region. The pure video signal 420 is submitted to each content filter 1120 which is activated to produce a corresponding content-filtered signal 1612. A particular content-filtered signal 1612 may be multicast to a number of clients that have indicated preference of the view region corresponding to the particular content-filtered signal. However, the client devices may have different characteristics, the capacities of network paths to the client devices may differ, and the permissible flow rates to the client devices may differ due differing network-path capacities and time-varying traffic loads at the client devices. Thus, content-filtered signals 1612 are processed in the second stage 1620 for adaptation to client devices and network-paths.

FIG. 18 illustrates a signal-processing unit 1630, of the second stage 1620 of the signal-editing module 460, comprising a transcoding module 1840 for signal adaptation to client-device types and modules 1860 for signal flow-rate adaptation to conform to permissible flow-rates. A transcoding module 1840 may adapt a video signal to have a frame rate and resolution within the capability of a respective client device. With N types of active client devices, N≧1, a transcoding module 1840 produces N signals 1842, individually identified as 1842(0) to 1842(N−1), each adapted to a respective device type. A module 1860 may further reduce the flow rate of a signal if the flow rate exceeds a permissible value. Each module 1860(j), 0≦j<N, comprises a buffer 1861 for holding a data block of a respective signal 1842 and a memory device 1862 storing processor-executable instruction for flow-rate adaptation.

FIG. 19 illustrates a complete structure 1900 of the signal-editing module 460. The content filtering stage 1610 comprises K content filters 1120 as illustrated in FIG. 17. Each content-filtered signal 1612 is submitted to a transcoding module 1840 to adapt the signal to a respective client-device type. A transcoding module 1840 comprises a buffer 1922 for holding a data block of a content-filtered signal 1612 and a memory device 1923 storing processor executable instructions which cause a processor to modify the frame rate and/or resolution to be compatible with the capability of a client-receiver. Each output signals 1842 of a transcoding module 1840 may be further processed at a flow-rate adaptation module 1860.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, K content filters 1120, individually identified as 1120(0) to 1120(K−1), K>1, may be activated simultaneously to extract different content-filtered signals 1612(0) to 1612(K−1) each further processed at a respective signal-processing unit 1630 to produce a signal 1650 suitable for display at a respective client device or a set of client devices. As illustrated in FIG. 18, a content-filtered signal 1612 is transcoded to be compatible with a target client device 180 and further adapted to a flow rate not exceeding a permissible upper bound.

FIG. 20 illustrates processes 2000 of video signal editing for a target client device 180. Control signals 935 may provide traffic-performance measurements 2014, a nominal frame rate and frame resolution 2016, and identifiers 2012 of a preferred view region. A pure video signal 420 is directed to a content filter 1120(j) to extract content of pure video signal 420 that corresponds to a view region j identified by a user of the target client device. Flow-rate computation module 2040 is activated to determine a permissible flow rate Φ as well as a frame rate and frame resolution, compatible with the target client device 180, to be used in transcoding module 1840(j). Transcoding module 1840(j) is activated to adapt the extracted content-filtered signal 1612(j) to the frame rate and frame resolution determined by flow-rate computation module 2040. Server compression module 2030 produces an edited video signal 940 (FIG. 9) which corresponds to an identified view region and is adapted to the capability of the target client device 180 and the capability of the network path from the server 120 to the target client device 180. Transmitter 2050 sends a signal 2052 to the target client device. Signal 2052 comprises video signal 940 together with accompanying multimedia signals (such as audio signals and/or text) and control signals. Signal 2052 is routed to the target client device along a network path 2060.

FIG. 21 details flow-rate computation module 2040. Starting with a nominal frame rate and nominal frame resolution of the target client device 180, which may be stored at the server or included in control signals 935 received from the target client, process 2110 determines the requisite flow rate R at the display device of the target client device 180 as a direct multiplication of the frame rate, the number of pixels per frame, and the number of bits per pixel. Independently, process 2120 determines a permissible flow rate Φ (reference 2122) between the server and the target client device based on measurements of traffic performance along the network path 2060 and the occupancy of a receiving buffer at the client device. The traffic-performance measurements include a data-loss indicator (if any) and delay jitter. The traffic-performance measurements are determined using techniques well known in the art. Determining the permissible flow rate based on measured traffic performance may be based on empirical formulae or based on a parameterized analytical model.

Process 2140 determines whether the compression ratio (determined in process 2130) of the requisite flow rate R at the display device of the target client server to the permissible flow rate Φ along the network path 2060 is suitable for server compression module 2030. If the flow rate R is to be reduced to satisfy a compression-ratio limit, process 2150 may determine a revised frame rate and/or a revised resolution 2152 to be communicated to transcoding module 1840 (FIG. 20). The permissible flow rate Φ may be communicated to server compression module 2030.

FIG. 22 illustrates components of a client device 180. A memory device 2210 stores client-device characterizing data, such as upper bounds of a frame rate and frame resolution of a display device. A memory device 2220 stores software instructions for interacting with specific servers 120. The instructions may include software modules to enable a user of a client device to communicate identifications of preferred viewing regions to the server. The software instructions may be installed by a user of a client device or sent from a server 120 together with the downstream control signals 945 (FIG. 9). A client transmitter 2230 transmits all control data from the client device to respective servers 120. A client receiver 2240 receives all signals from server(s) 120 including edited video signal 940 (which may be compressed), other multimedia data (audio signals and text), and control signals 945. An interface 2242 directs control signals 945 to processor 2250 and edited video signal 940, together with accompanying audio signals and text, to a memory device 2260 which buffers data blocks of incoming multimedia data comprising the video signal 940, audio data, and text. If the incoming multimedia data is not compressed, the data may be presented to the display device 2290. Otherwise, client decompression module 2270 decompresses the compressed data block buffered in memory device 2260 to produce display data to be held in memory device 2280 coupled to the display device 2290. Notably, a data block corresponding to one frame of a full-coverage frame-sampled signal 1322 (FIG. 13, FIG. 14) may be displayed numerous times before dequeueing from memory device 2280.

FIG. 23 illustrates communication paths between a universal streaming server 120 and two panoramic multimedia sources 110-0 and 110-1 through network 150. A multimedia source 110 comprises a panoramic camera 310 (e.g., a 4π camera), and may include a de-warping module 330 and/or a source compression module 340 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 8. Although only two panoramic multimedia sources 110 are illustrated, it should be understood that the universal streaming server 120 may simultaneously connect to more multimedia sources 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In a preferred implementation, the universal streaming server is cloud-embedded so that the network connectivity and processing capacity of the universal streaming server may be selected to suit varying activity levels. A source multimedia signal from a panoramic multimedia source 110 is transmitted to the universal streaming server 120 through a network path 480/490 (FIG. 4) of an appropriate transmission capacity. The source multimedia signal includes a source video signal 900.

With an ideal network path 480/490, the received multimedia signal at the universal streaming server 120 would be a delayed replica of the transmitted video signal. The network path 480/490, however, may traverse a data router at source, a data router at destination, and possibly one or more intermediate data routers. Thus, the received multimedia signal may be subject to noise, delay jitter, and possibly partial signal loss. With signal filtering at the server 120 and flow-rate control, the content of the received multimedia signal would be a close replica of the content of the transmitted multimedia signal.

The source video signal 900 may be a “raw” video signal 312 produced by a panoramic camera, a corrected video signal 322, a compressed video signal 342, or a compact video signal 343 as illustrated in FIG. 3. A corrected video signal 322 is produced from the raw video signal using de-warping module 330. A compressed video signal 342 is produced from the raw signal 312, using source compression module 340 (FIG. 3), according to one of standardized compression methods or a proprietary compression method. A compact video signal 343 is produced from a corrected video signal 322 using a source compression module 340. The raw video signal may be produced by a single panoramic camera or multiple cameras.

The universal streaming server 120 may send control signals 925 (FIG. 9) to the panoramic multimedia source 110 through a network path 2314, which would be of a (much) lower transmission capacity in comparison with the payload path 480/490.

FIG. 24 illustrates a network 150 supporting a universal streaming server 120, a signal source 110 providing panoramic multimedia signals, and a plurality of client devices 180. Although only one signal source is illustrated, it should be understood that the universal streaming server 120 may simultaneously connect to multiple signal sources as illustrated in FIG. 2. Communication paths are established between the universal streaming server 120 and a plurality of heterogeneous client devices 180. The universal streaming server 120 sends edited multimedia signals 940 (FIG. 9) to the client devices through network paths 2412. The universal streaming server 120 receives control data 935 from individual client devices 180 through control paths (not illustrated) within network 150. The control data 935 may include requests for service and selection of view regions.

A source multimedia signal from the source 110 is transmitted to the server 120 through a payload network path 480/490 of sufficiently high capacity to support high-flow rate. The multimedia signal includes a source video signal 900 (FIG. 3, 312, 322, 342, or 343). Control signals from the server 120 to the signal source 110 are transmitted over a control path which would be of a much lower capacity in comparison with the payload network path 480/490. A video signal component 900 of the source multimedia signal may be an original uncompressed video signal produced by a panoramic camera or a compressed video signal produced from the original video signal according to one of standardized compression methods or a proprietary compression method. The original video signal may be produced by a single panoramic camera or multiple cameras.

With an ideal network path, the received video signal at the server 120 would be a delayed replica of the transmitted video signal. The network path, however, may traverse a data router at source, a data router at destination, and possibly one or more intermediate data routers. Thus, the received multimedia signal may be subject to noise, delay jitter, and possibly partial signal loss. The universal streaming server 120 receives commands from individual client devices 180. The commands may include requests for service, selection of viewing patterns, etc.

The video signals, individually or collectively referenced as 940, from the universal streaming server to client devices 180 are individually adapted to capabilities of respective client devices 180, available capacities (“bandwidths”) of network paths, and clients' preferences. Control data from individual client devices to the universal streaming server are collectively referenced as 935 (FIG. 9). The universal streaming server 120 may be implemented using hardware processing units and memory devices allocated within a shared cloud computing network. Alternatively, selected processes may be implemented in a computing facility outside the cloud.

FIG. 25 illustrates a path 480/490 carrying multimedia signals from a source 110 to a server 120 and a dual control path 2512 carrying control signals 905 from the source 110 to the server 120 and control signals 925 from the server 120 to the source 110. Downstream network path 2525 carries multimedia signals from the server 120 to a client 180. Dual control path 2526 carries downstream control signals to a client device 180 and upstream control signals 935 from the client device 180 to the server 120. An automaton 2545 associated with a client device 180 may send commands to the universal streaming server. The automaton would normally be a human observer. However, in some applications, a monitor with artificial-intelligence capability may be envisaged.

Client-specific multimedia signals 940 adapted from a panoramic multimedia signal 900 generated at the multimedia source 110 may be multicast to the plurality of heterogeneous client devices 180. The multimedia signals 940 are individually adapted to capabilities of respective client devices, available capacities (“bandwidths”) of network paths, and clients' preferences.

FIG. 26 illustrates a modular structure of the universal streaming server 120 comprising at least one hardware processor 2610. A server-source interface 2651 controls communication with the multimedia source 110. A source-characterization module 2652 characterizes the multimedia source 110 and communicates source-characterization data to a set 2620 of modules devised to process the received panoramic video signal 900. The source-characterization data may be determined from characterization data communicated by a panoramic multimedia source or from stored records. The set 2620 of modules includes a signal filtering module 2621, for offsetting signal degradation due to transmission noise and delay jitter, and may include a server decompression module 350 and a de-warping module 320 (FIG. 3). The signal-filtering module 2621 offsets signal degradation caused by noise and delay jitter. If the “raw” video signal 312 (FIG. 3) has been de-warped at source to produce a “corrected signal” 322 that is further compressed at source, the server decompression module 350 applies appropriate decompression processes to produce a replica of the corrected signal 322. Otherwise, if the raw video signal 312 has been compressed at source without de-warping, the server decompression module 350 applies appropriate decompression processes to produce a replica of the raw signal 312 which is then de-warped using de-warping module 320.

The client-device related modules 2640 include a client-device characterization module 2642 and a module 2643 for signal adaptation to client-device characteristics. The client-device characterization module 2642 may rely on a client-profile database 2641 that stores characteristics of each client-device type of a set of client-device types or extract client-device characteristics from characterization data received via server-client interface 2661. A client's device characteristics may relate to processing capacity, upper bounds of frame rate, frame resolution, and flow rate, etc.

Client-specific modules 2660 include server-client interface 2661, a module 2662 for signal adaptation to a client's environment, and a module 2663 for signal adaptation to a client's viewing preference.

FIG. 27 illustrates a universal streaming server 120 including a learning module 2725 for tracking clients' selections of viewing options. The learning module may be configured to retain viewing-preference data and correlate viewing preference to characteristics of client devices and optionally clients' environment.

Thus, the server comprises a network interface module devised to establish, through at least one network, communication paths to and from at least one panoramic video source; and a plurality of client devices. Various designs may be considered to construct the universal streaming server 120 based on the following modules:

-   -   a decompression module devised to decompress a video signal that         has been compressed at source;     -   a de-warping module devised to de-warp a video signal which has         not been de-warped at source;     -   a transcoding module devised to adapt a video signal to         characteristics of any client device of the plurality of client         devices;     -   a content filter devised to edit content of a video signal to         correspond to an identified view region; and     -   a control module devised to communicate with at least one         panoramic video source to acquire source video signals, present         video signals to the transcoding module and the content filter         to generate client-specific video signals, and send the         client-specific video signals to respective client devices.

The server may further use a learning module devised to retain viewing-preference data and correlate viewing preference to characteristics of client devices.

FIG. 28 illustrates processes performed at universal streaming server 120 where a panoramic video signal is adapted to client-device types then content filtered. In process 2820, a received source video signal 900 is decompressed if the source video signal 900 has been compressed at source. The received source video signal 900 is de-warped if the source video signal has not been de-warped at source. Process 2820 produces a pure video signal 420 (FIG. 4 to FIG. 8), which may be a corrected video signal 322 or a rectified video signal 324 (FIG. 3) as described above. Multiple processes 2830 may be executed in parallel to transcode pure video signal 420 to video signals adapted to different types of client devices.

Each of processes 2830 is specific to client-device type. A process 2830 transcodes the pure video signal 420 resulting from process 2820 to produce a modified signal suitable for a respective client-device type. Several clients may be using devices of a same type. However, the clients may have different viewing preferences. A video signal produced by a process 2830 is adapted in content filter 1120 to a view-region selection of a respective (human) client. However, if two or more clients using devices of a same type also have similar viewing preferences, a single content-filtering process may be executed and the resulting adapted signal is transmitted to the two or more clients.

FIG. 29 illustrates processes performed at universal streaming server 120 where a panoramic video signal is content filtered then adapted to client-device types. As in process 2820 of FIG. 28, a received source video signal 900 is decompressed if the source video signal 900 has been compressed at source. The received source video signal 900 is de-warped if the source video signal 900 has not been de-warped at source. Process 2820 produces a pure video signal 420, which may be a corrected video signal 322 or a rectified video signal 324 (FIG. 3) as described above. A memory device stores a set 2925 of predefined descriptors of partial-coverage view regions.

Multiple processes of content filtering of pure video signal 420 may be executed in parallel to produce content-filtered video signals corresponding to the predefined descriptors of partial-coverage view regions. Multiple processes 2940 may be executed in parallel to adapt a content-filtered video signal to different types of client devices. If two or more clients select a same view region and use client devices of a same type, a single process 2940 is executed and the resulting adapted video signal is transmitted to the two or more clients.

FIG. 30 illustrates a method 3000 of acquisition of a panoramic multimedia signal and adapting the acquired multimedia signal to individual clients. The universal streaming server 120 acquires a panoramic multimedia signal and, preferably, respective metadata from a selected panoramic multimedia source 110 (process 3010). The acquired panoramic multimedia signal includes a source video signal which may be a raw video signal 312, corrected video signal 322, compressed video signal 342, or a compact video signal 343 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The source video signal is filtered to offset degradation caused by noise and delay jitter (process 3012) and decompressed if the signal has been compressed at source (process 3014). The so-far-processed signal is de-warped if not originally de-warped at source (process 3018). Processes 3010 to 3018 yield a pure video signal 420.

When a service request is received from a client (process 3020), the pure video signal 420 is adapted to the characteristics of the client's device (process 3022). The adapted signal is compressed (process 3026) and transmitted to the client device (process 3028). Process 3026 takes into consideration flow-rate constraints which may be dictated by condition of the network path from the server to the client device.

The client may prefer a specific view region and communicate with the universal streaming server 120 to define the preferred view region. Upon receiving a control signal 3030 from the client specifying a preferred view region (process 3032), the adapted signal produced in process 3022 is content filtered (process 3034), compressed (process 3026), and transmitted to the client device (process 3028). The pure view signal 420 may be content-filtered several times during a streaming session.

FIG. 31 illustrates a method 3100, similar to the method of FIG. 30, of acquisition of a panoramic multimedia signal and adapting the acquired multimedia signal to individual clients. The only difference is the order of executing processes 3010, 3020, and 3022.

FIG. 32 illustrates an exemplary streaming-control table 3200, maintained at the universal streaming server 120, corresponding to a specific panoramic multimedia source 110. An edited multimedia signal 940 (FIG. 9, FIG. 24) delivered to a specific client device 180 depends on the characteristics of the client device and on the viewing preference of a viewer using the client device. With a large number of client devices 180 connecting concurrently to a universal streaming server 120 (watching an activity in real time), it is plausible that:

-   -   (i) numerous clients use client devices 180 of the same         characteristics but the clients have differing viewing         preferences;     -   (ii) numerous clients have similar viewing preferences but use         client devices of differing characteristics; and/or     -   (iii) two or more clients use client devices of the same         characteristics and have the same viewing preference.

Thus, to reduce the processing effort of the universal streaming server 120:

-   -   module 2643 of signal adaptation to client device may be         exercised only once for all client devices of the same         characteristics then module 2663 of signal adaptation to client         viewing preference is exercised only once for all clients having         similar client devices and similar viewing preferences; or     -   module 2663 of signal adaptation to client viewing preference         may be exercised only once for all clients having similar         viewing preferences then module 2643 of signal adaptation to         client device is exercised only once for all clients having         similar viewing preferences and similar client devices.

As described earlier, module 2643 is devised for signal adaptation to client-device characteristics and module 2663 is devised for signal adaptation to a client's viewing preference.

The clients' requests for service may arrive in a random order and a simple way to track prior signal adaptation processes is to use a streaming-control table 3200 (FIG. 32). Streaming-control table 3200 is null initialized. In the example of FIG. 32, there are eight types of client devices 180, denoted D0, D1, . . . , D7, and there are six view options denoted V0, V1, . . . , V5, quantified, for example, according to viewing solid angles. A first client accessed the universal streaming server 120 using a client device of type D1 and requested viewing option V3. A stream denoted stream-0 is then created and indicated in streaming-control table 3200. Another stream, denoted stream 1, is created for another client using a client device 180 of type D5 and specifying viewing option V2, and so on. Only six streams are identified in streaming-control table 3200, but it is understood that with a large number of simultaneously connected client devices 180 there may be numerous streams. When a new request from a client is received, streaming-control table 3200 is accessed to determine whether a new stream need be created or an existing stream be directed to the client. All of the streams corresponding to a device type are herein said to form a “stream category”.

FIG. 33 illustrates a streaming control process 3300 of initial adaptation of a video-signal for a specific client device 180. A request for service is received at server-client interface module 2661 from a client device 180 (process 3310) and the type of client device 180 is identified (process 3312). Process 3314 determines whether the device type has been considered.

If the client device type has not been considered (process 3314), a new stream category is created (process 3320) and the corresponding pure video signal 420 is adapted to the device type (process 3322). The new stream category is recorded (process 3324), a new stream is created (process 3326) and transmitted to the specific client device (process 3330).

If the device type has already been considered (process 3314), a stream category is identified (process 3316). At this point, the client may not have indicated a viewing preference and a default viewing option may be assigned. If a stream corresponding to an identified view region has already been created (process 3326), the stream is transmitted to the specific client device (process 3330). Otherwise, a new stream is created (process 3326) and transmitted to the specific client device (process 3330).

FIG. 34 illustrates an exemplary table 3400 produced by the learning module 2725 indicating a count of viewing options for each type of client devices 180. Eight client-device types denoted D0, D1, . . . , D7 and six viewing options denoted V0, V1, . . . , V5 are considered. The table may accumulate a count of selections of each stream defined by a device type and a viewing option over a predefined time window which may be a moving time window.

In the exemplary table of FIG. 34, the most popular viewing option for clients using the client-device denoted D1 is viewing option V3 (selected 64 times over the time window). Thus, a new request for service received at the universal streaming server 120 from a client device of type D1 may be initially assigned viewing option V3.

Thus, the invention provides a method of signal streaming implemented at a server which may be implemented using hardware processing units and memory devices allocated within a shared cloud-computing network. The method comprises processes of multicasting a signal to a plurality of clients, receiving from a specific client a request to modify content of the signal, producing a modified signal, and transmitting the modified signal to the specific client. The signal may be derived from a panoramic multimedia signal containing a panoramic video signal produced by a single camera or produced by combining video signals from multiple cameras. The modified signal may be a partial-coverage multimedia signal.

In order to produce the modified signal, the method comprises processes of de-warping a video-signal component of the signal to produce a de-warped video signal and adapting the de-warped video signal to the client device to produce a device-specific video signal. The device-specific signal may be adapted to a viewing-preference of a client. The viewing preference may be stated in a request received from a client or be based on a default value specific to a client-device type.

The method comprises a process of acquiring characteristics of client devices which communicate with the server to request streaming service. A record of the characteristics of the client device and viewing preference may be added to a viewing-preference database maintained at the server.

The invention further provides a method of signal streaming performed at a server which may be fully or partially implemented using resources of a cloud computing network. The server may acquire a panoramic multimedia signal then decompress and de-warp a video-signal component of the panoramic multimedia signal to produce a pure video signal. For a given client device of a plurality of client devices:

-   -   (i) the pure video signal is content filtered to produce a         respective content-filtered signal which corresponds to a         selected view region; and     -   (ii) the content-filtered signal bound to a client device is         adapted to characteristics of the client device as well as to         characteristics of a network path from the server to a target         client device;

Each client device comprises a processor, a memory device, and a display screen. A client device may send an indication of viewing preference to the server. The server produces a respective content-filtered signal, corresponding to the viewing preference, to be sent to the client device.

The server may further perform processes of:

-   -   (a) retaining data relating viewing preference to         characteristics of clients' devices; and     -   (b) using the retained data for determining a default viewing         preference for each client device of the plurality of client         devices.

The server may acquire a panoramic video signal that is already de-warped and compressed at source then decompress the panoramic video signal to produce a pure video signal. A set of modified signals is then produced where each modified signal corresponds to a respective partial-coverage pattern of a predefined set of partial-coverage patterns. Upon receiving connection requests from a plurality of client devices, where each connection request specifies a preferred partial-coverage pattern, the server determines for each client device a respective modified signal according a respective preferred partial-coverage pattern. The respective modified signal bound to a particular client device may further be adapted to suit characteristics of the particular client device and characteristics of a network path to the particular client device.

FIG. 35 illustrates processes 3500 of downstream signal flow-rate control based on signal-content changes and performance metrics. A flow controller of the server implements one of two flow-control options. In a first option (option 0), an encoder of a content-filtered video signal enforces (Process 3542) a current permissible flow rate. In a second option (option 1), the flow controller communicates (process 3544) with a controller of a network which provides a path from the server to a client device to reserve a higher path capacity or to release excess path capacity.

A network interface (1010, FIG. 10) of server 120 receives upstream control data from a client device 120 which may contain definition of a preferred video-signal content as well as performance measurements. The traffic performance of a communication path connecting a first device to a second device may be evaluated by exchanging control data between the first device and the second device. The first device may send indications of transmitting time and data-packet indices, the second device may detect delay jitter and/or data-packet loss and communicate relevant information to the first device. Additionally, the second device may track processing delay or packet-buffer occupancy at a decoder of the second device; such information would be indicative of a current processing load at the second device which may require reducing the flow rate from the first device to the second device.

The network interface receives the upstream control data and extracts performance-measurement data (process 3510). The flow controller determines performance metrics using methods well known in the art. The performance measurement may include data loss, delay jitter, and occupancy of a buffer at a client device holding data detected from carrier signals received at the client device from the server 120. The performance measurements correspond to a current permissible flow rate. The flow controller determines (process 3512) performance metrics based on the performance measurement and compares (process 3514) the performance metrics with respective acceptance levels which may be based on default values or defined in the upstream control data. If the performance is acceptable, the content-filtered video signal is encoded (process 3550) under the current permissible flow rate. If the performance is not acceptable, the flow controller either instructs an encoder to encode the content-filtered video signal at a lower flow rate (option 0, processes 3540, 3542) or communicate with a network controller to acquire a path of a higher capacity (option 1, processes 3540, 3544). The second option may not be selected if the traffic measurements indicate an unacceptable processing load at the client device.

The network interface also extracts (process 3520) data defining a preferred partial content of the full-content pure video signal and communicates the information to a content filter. The content filter extracts a new content-filtered signal (process 3522) from the pure video signal to generate a content-filtered video signal according to received definition of the new content. The flow controller determines (process 3524) a tentative flow-rate requirement corresponding to the new content. If the tentative flow rate does not exceed the current permissible flow rate (process 3526), the new content-filtered video signal is encoded (process 3550) under the permissible flow rate. Otherwise, the flow controller either instructs the encoder to encode the new content-filtered video signal encoded under constraint of the current permissible flow rate (option 0, processes 3540, 3542) or communicate with the network controller to acquire a path of a higher capacity (option 1, processes 3540, 3544).

FIG. 36 illustrates a flow-control system of a universal streaming server 120 comprising a flow controller 3610. The flow controller comprises a processor 3630 and a memory device storing instructions forming a module 3635 for determining a preferred flow rate. Module 3635 may implement processes 3500 of FIG. 35. A server-network interface 3625 receives content-definition parameters 3612 and performance measurements 3616. A content filter 1120 receives a pure video signal 420 (FIG. 4) and extracts partial-content signal 3650 according to content-definition parameters 3612 of requested partial content received from an automaton 2545 (FIG. 25) associated with a client device. Module 3635 uses performance measurements 3616 received from the client device to determine a preferred flow rate. Encoder 3640 encodes the partial-content signal at the preferred flow rate and produces a compressed signal 3660 to be transmitted to the client device. Encoder 3640 comprises a transcoder and a server compression module (not illustrated).

At the universal streaming server 120, a received signal from a source may be decompressed to reproduce an original full-content signal; preferably a source sends signals compressed using lossless compression techniques. The full-content signal is processed in a content filter to produce a partial-content signal according to specified content-definition parameters. A preferred flow rate of the partial-content signal is determined based on either receiver performance measurements or network-performance measurements as will be described in further detail in FIG. 41. Thus, the partial-content signal is encoded to produce a compressed partial content signal to be transmitted to a respective client device.

FIG. 37 illustrates a combined process 3700 of content filtering and flow-rate adaptation of a signal in the streaming system of FIG. 24. The universal streaming server 120 continuously receives (process 3710) from client devices and associated automata control data from clients in the form of content-definition parameters and performance measurements. If the content-definition parameters from a client indicate a request to change content, the content-definition parameters are directed to a content filter 1120 (processes 3720 and 3760) and process 3710 is activated after imposing an artificial delay 3770 in order to ensure that received client's control data correspond to the changed signal content. Otherwise, if the content-definition parameters indicate maintaining a current content, the universal streaming server determines a preferred flow rate (process 3730). If the preferred flow rate is the same as a current flow rate, or has an insignificant deviation from the current flow rate, no action is taken and process 3710 is revisited (process 3740). If the preferred flow rate differs significantly from the current flow rate, the new flow rate is communicated to encoder 3640 (processes 3740 and 3750) and process 3710 is activated after an artificial delay 3770 to ensure that received client's control data correspond to the new flow rate. The artificial delay should exceed a round-trip delay between the universal streaming server and the client's device.

FIG. 38 illustrates a content filter 1120 of a universal streaming server. The content filter 1120 comprises a processor 3822, a buffer 3826 for holding data blocks of a pure video signal 420, and a memory device 3824 storing software instructions causing the processor to extract an updated content signal 3860 of partial content from buffered data blocks of the pure video signal. Blocks of the partial-content signal are stored in a buffer 3828. Processor 3822 executes software instructions which cause transfer of data in buffer 3828 to a subsequent processing stage which may include a transcoding module and/or a compression module.

Thus, the present invention provides a universal streaming server 120 comprising a network interface 1010, a content filter 1120, a flow controller 3610, and an encoder 3640.

The network interface is devised to receive a source video signal 900 from a panoramic signal source 110, content-definition parameters 3612, and performance measurements 3616 from a client device 180. A source signal-processing module 1024, which comprises a decompression module and a de-warping module, generates a pure video signal 420 from the source video signal 900. The pure video signal 420 is a full-coverage signal which corresponds to a respective scene captured at source

The content filter 1120 is devised to extract an updated content signal 3860 from the pure video signal 420 according to the content-definition parameters 3612. A processor of the content filter is devised to determine a ratio of size of the updated content signal to size of a current content signal.

The flow controller 3610 comprises a memory device storing flow-control instructions 3635 which cause a hardware processor 3630 to determine a current permissible flow rate of the partial-coverage signal based on the performance measurements and the ratio of size of the updated content signal to size of a current content signal.

The encoder 3640 comprises a transcoder module and a compression module and is devised to encode the partial-coverage signal under the current permissible flow rate.

The flow controller 3610 is devised to communicate with a network controller (not illustrated) to acquire a path compatible with a requisite flow rate between the universal streaming server 120 and the client device.

The flow-control instructions 3635 cause the hardware processor to retain an indication of a difference between the current permissible flow rate and a preceding permissible flow rate. If the difference exceeds a predefined threshold, the instructions cause the processor to delay the process of determining a succeeding permissible flow rate for a predefined delay period to ensure that the received performance measurements correspond to the current permissible flow rate.

The content filter 1120 comprises a respective processor 3822 and a respective memory device storing content-selection instructions 3824 which cause the respective processor to extract the updated content signal from the pure video signal 420. A first buffer 3826 holds Data blocks of the full-coverage video signal. A second buffer 3828 holds data blocks of the updated content signal 3860.

The content-selection instructions 3824 further cause the respective processor to determine the ratio of size of the updated content signal to size of a current content signal based on sizes of data blocks of the full-content signal and sizes of corresponding data blocks of the updated signal to be used in determining the current permissible flow rate.

The universal streaming server further comprises a frame-sampling module 1320 comprising a memory device storing frame-sampling instructions which cause a respective hardware processor to sample the pure video signal 420 during distant frame intervals to derive a frame-sampled video signal 1322 (FIG. 13 and FIG. 15). The frame intervals are selected so that the frame-sampled video signal has a constant flow rate not exceeding a nominal flow rate, and wherein the network interface is further devised to transmit the frame-sampled video signal to the client.

The content filter 1120 may be devised to derive a set of preselected content-filtered signals corresponding to different view regions from the full-content video signal. A compression module comprising a memory device storing signal-compression instructions may be devised to compress the preselected content-filtered signals to generate a succession of compressed content filtered signals occupying successive time windows. The network interface is further devised to transmit the succession of compressed content filtered signals to the client device, receive an indication of a preferred content-filtered signal of the set of preselected content-filtered signals, and communicate the indication to the content filter.

FIG. 39 illustrates initial processes 3900 performed at the universal streaming server 120 to start a streaming session. The universal streaming server receives a de-warped compressed full-content signal from a signal source (process 3910) and decompresses (process 3915) the full-content signal to produce a pure video signal corresponding to a respective scene captured at source. The server receives a connection request from a client device (process 3920); the request may include parameters of a partial-content of the signal. If the content-definition parameters are not provided, a default content selection is used (processes 3925, 3930). A content filter of the universal streaming server extracts (process 3940) a partial-content signal based on the default content selection or the specified partial-content selection. The initial content selection may be set to be the full content. A flow rate for the extracted signal may be specified in the connection request in which case an encoder of the universal streaming server may encode the signal under the constraint of the specified flow rate (processes 3950 and 3960). Otherwise, a default flow rate may be provided to the encoder (process 3955). A compressed encoded partial-content (or full-content) signal is transmitted to the target client device (process 3970).

FIG. 40 illustrates a method 4000 of adaptive modification of video-signal content and flow rate of the transmitted encoded signal. The universal streaming server receives (process 4010) a new content preference from an automaton (a person) associated with a client device. If the new content is the same as a current content (processes 4020 and 4050), a content filter of the universal streaming server maintains its previous setting and a preferred encoding rate based on received performance data is determined (process 4050, module 3635 of determining a preferred flow rate, FIG. 36). The signal is encoded at the preferred encoding rate (process 4060) and transmitted to the target client device (process 4070). If process 4020 determines that the new content differs from the current content, a content filter of the universal streaming server extracts a partial-content signal from the pure video signal (processes 4020 and 4030) and encodes the signal at a nominal flow rate (process 4040). A compressed encoded partial-content signal is transmitted to the target client device (process 4070).

FIG. 41 illustrates criteria 4100 of determining a preferred encoding rate of a signal based on performance measurements pertinent to receiver condition and network-path condition. A universal streaming server serving a number of client devices receives from a client device performance data relevant to the client's receiver condition and performance data relevant to a network path from the universal streaming server to the client's receiver. A module coupled to the universal streaming server determines primary metrics relevant to the receiver's condition and secondary metrics relevant to the network-path conditions. An acceptance interval, defined by a lower bound and an upper bound, is prescribed for each metric. The metrics are defined so that a value above a respective upper bound indicates unacceptable performance while a value below a respective lower bound indicates better performance than expected. A metric may be considered to be in one of three states: a state of “−1” if the value is below the lower bound of a respective acceptance interval, a state of “1” if the value is above a higher bound of the acceptance interval, and a state “0” otherwise, i.e., if the value is within the acceptance interval including the lower and higher bounds. The terms “metric state” and “metric index” are herein used synonymously.

The receiver's condition and the network-path condition are not mutually independent. The network path may affect data flow to the receiver due to delay jitter and/or data loss. The preferred encoding rate (hence flow rate) may be determined according to rules (i) to (iv) below.

-   -   (i) If any primary metric deviates from a respective predefined         acceptance interval indicating unacceptable receiver         performance, i.e., if a primary metric is above the predefined         acceptance interval, a new judicially reduced permissible         flow-rate (process 4120) is determined based on the primary         metrics regardless of the values of the secondary metrics.     -   (ii) If none of the primary metrics is above the predefined         acceptance interval and any secondary metric is above a         respective acceptance interval, a new judicially reduced         permissible encoding rate (process 4130) is determined based on         the secondary metrics.     -   (iii) If each primary metric is below a respective acceptance         interval and each secondary metric is below a respective         acceptance interval, a new higher permissible flow-rate (process         4140) may be judicially determined based on the primary and         secondary metrics.     -   (iv) If none of the conditions in (i), (ii), or (iii) above         applies, the current flow rate (encoding rate) remains unchanged         (4110).

FIG. 42 illustrates a method of determining a preferred encoding rate of a signal based on the criteria of FIG. 41. The method details process 4050 of FIG. 40. The method applies within a same video-signal content selection (view-region selection), i.e., when the universal streaming server determines that a current video-signal content is to remain unchanged until a request for video-signal content change is received.

A controller of a universal streaming server determines primary metrics based on performance data relevant to a client's receiver (process 4210). If any primary metric is above a respective acceptance interval, a judicially reduced permissible flow rate is determined based on the primary metrics (processes 4220 and 4225) and communicated (process 4280) to a respective encoder. Otherwise, with none of the primary metrics being above its respective acceptance interval, the controller of the universal streaming server determines secondary metrics based on performance data relevant to conditions of a network path from the universal streaming server to a client's device (processes 4220 and 4230).

If any secondary metric is above its predefined acceptance interval, a judicially reduced permissible flow rate is determined based on the secondary metrics (processes 4240 and 4245) and communicated (process 4280) to a respective encoder. Otherwise, if each primary metric is below its predefined acceptance interval and each secondary metric is below its predefined acceptance interval, a new encoding rate based on the primary and secondary metrics is determined (processes 4250 and 4260) and communicated to a respective encoder (process 4280). If any primary metric or any secondary metric is within its respective acceptance interval, the current encoding rate is maintained (process 4255).

Thus, the invention provides a method of signal streaming in a streaming system under flow-rate regulation. The method comprises acquiring at a server 120 comprising at least one hardware processor a source video signal 900 from which a pure video signal 420 is derived, sending a derivative of the pure video signal to a client device 180, and receiving at a controller 3610 of the server 120 content selection parameters 3612 from the client device defining preferred partial coverage of the full-coverage video signal. A content filter 1120 of the server extracts a partial-coverage video signal 3650 from the pure video signal 420 according to the content selection parameters 3612.

The server transmits the partial-coverage video signal to the client device 180. Upon receiving performance measurements 3616 pertinent to the partial-coverage video signal, the controller 3610 determines an updated permissible flow rate of the partial-coverage video signal based on the performance measurements. An encoder 3640 encodes the partial-coverage video signal according to the updated permissible flow rate. The encoder 3640 transcodes the partial-coverage video signal to generate a transcoded signal compatible with characteristics of the client device and compresses the transcoding signal.

The controller 3610 may instruct the encoder 3640 to encode the partial-coverage video signal under the constraint of a current permissible flow rate. Alternatively, the controller may communicate with a network controller (not illustrated) to acquire a downstream network path compatible with the updated permissible flow rate between the server 120 to the client device 180.

The derivative of the pure video signal may be generated as a frame-sampled video signal 1322 (FIG. 13, FIG. 15) of a constant flow rate not exceeding a predefined nominal flow rate. Alternatively, the derivative may be generated as a compressed video signal 1342 (FIG. 13), within the predefined nominal flow rate, derived from the pure video signal 420. The derivative of the pure video signal may also be generated as a succession 1364 (FIG. 13) of compressed content-filtered video signals occupying successive time windows, and derived from the pure video signal.

The performance measurements pertain to conditions at a receiver of the client device and conditions of a downstream network path from the server to the client device. The controller 3610 determines primary metrics based on performance measurements pertinent to the conditions of the receiver. Where at least one primary metric is above a respective acceptance interval, the controller 3610 judicially reduces a current permissible flow rate based on the primary metrics (FIG. 41). Otherwise, where none of the primary metrics is above a respective acceptance interval, the controller 3610 determines secondary metrics based on performance measurements pertinent to the downstream network path. Where at least one secondary metric is above a respective acceptance interval, the controller judicially reduces the current flow rate of the signal based on values of the secondary metrics (FIG. 41).

Where each primary metric is below a respective acceptance interval and each secondary metric is below a respective acceptance interval, the controller judicially increases the current permissible flow rate based on the primary and secondary metrics (FIG. 41).

FIG. 43 illustrates a method of eliminating redundant processing of content selection in a universal streaming server 120 serving numerous clients. Upon receiving a full-coverage signal (process 4310) at the universal streaming server 120, a controller of the universal streaming server creates (process 4320) a register for holding parameters of produced partial-coverage signals (content-filtered signals). Initially, the register would be empty. A compressed full-coverage signal is decompressed at the server and de-warped if not de-warped at source. The controller receives (process 4330), from a specific client device, parameters defining a preferred view region. The controller inspects (process 4340) the register to ascertain presence or otherwise of a previously generated partial-coverage signal.

If the register content indicates that a matching partial-coverage signal has already been generated, the controller provides access to the matching partial-coverage signal (processes 4350 and 4360). A partial-coverage signal is directed to an encoder for further processing (process 4390). A partial-coverage signal may be directed to multiple encoders operating under different permissible flow rates to produce encoded signals of different flow rates with all encoded signals corresponding to a same view region. An encoder comprises a transcoding module and a server compression module. Alternatively, the partial-coverage signal may be presented to one encoder to sequentially produce encoded signals of different flow rates with all encoded signals corresponding to a same view region.

If no matching partial-coverage signal is found, the controller directs the full-coverage signal to a content filter 1120 (FIG. 36) to extract (process 4370) a new partial-coverage signal according to the new content-definition parameters defining the preferred view region. The new content-definition parameters are added (process 4380) to the register for future use and the new partial-coverage signal is directed to an encoder for further processing.

Thus, the invention provides a method of signal streaming comprising receiving at a server a full-coverage signal and at a controller comprising a hardware processor:

-   -   forming a register for holding identifiers of partial-coverage         signals derived from the full-coverage signal;     -   receiving from a client device coupled to the server new         content-definition parameters defining a view region; and     -   examining the register to ascertain presence of a matching         partial-coverage signal corresponding to the new         content-definition parameters.

If the matching partial-coverage signal is found, the matching partial-coverage signal is transmitted to the client device. Otherwise the full-coverage signal is directed to a content filter for extracting a new partial-coverage signal according to the new content-definition parameters. The new partial-coverage video signal is encoded to generate an encoded video signal and a bit rate of the encoded video signal is determined. The new content-definition parameters are added to the register.

The process of encoding comprises transcoding the new partial-coverage video signal to generate a transcoded video signal then compressing the transcoded video signal under constraint of a predefined nominal flow rate.

The server receives from the client device performance measurements pertinent to conditions at a receiver of the client device and conditions of a network path from the server to the receiver. The controller determines performance metrics based on the performance measurements and a permissible flow rate. The permissible flow rate is determined as a function of deviation of the performance metrics from corresponding predefined thresholds and the bit rate of the encoded video signal.

The process of encoding may further direct the new partial-coverage signal to multiple encoders operating under different permissible flow rates to produce encoded signals of different flow rates corresponding to the view region.

Seamless Content Change

A universal streaming server 120 may access multiple panoramic multimedia sources 110 (FIG. 2) and may concurrently acquire multimedia signals to be processed and communicated to various client devices 180. Each multimedia signal may include a source video signal 900 (FIGS. 9, 17, 23, and 28) which may be a raw signal 312, a corrected signal 322, a compressed signal 342, or a compact signal 343 (FIG. 3). A source video signal is a full-coverage video signal which may be content filtered according to different sets of content-definition parameters to generate partial-coverage video signals corresponding to different view regions. The source video signal 900 may be decompressed and/or de-warped at the server to generate a pure video signal 420 which corresponds to a respective scene captured at source. The server 120 may employ multiple content filters 1120 as illustrated in FIGS. 17, 19, 28, and 29.

Server 120 provides a content-filtered video signal specific to each active client device using a signal-editing module 460 comprising a content filter 1120, a transcoding module 1140, and a compression module 1160 (FIG. 11). The server may receive an upstream control signal from a specific client device 180 containing new content-definition parameters corresponding to a new view region. In order to provide seamless transition from one view region to another, the server may provide a number of spare signal-editing modules 460 so that while a particular signal-editing module 460-A is engaged in processing a current video-signal content, a free signal-editing module 460-B may process the video-signal content specified in a new content-definition parameters then replace the particular signal-editing module 460-A which then becomes a free signal-editing module.

FIG. 44 illustrates transient concurrent content-filtering of a video signal to enable seamless transition from one view region to another. A pure video signal 420 is presented to eight signal-editing modules 460, individually identified as 460(0) to 460(7). Six different content-filtered signals are generated from the pure-video signal to be distributed to at least six client devices 180. Signal-editing modules 460 of indices 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 are concurrently generating respective content-filtered video signals. Data blocks generated at the aforementioned signal-editing modules are respectively directed to buffers 4420 of indices 2, 0, 4, 1, 3, and 5. A multiplexer 4450 combines data blocks read from the buffers and the resulting multiple content-filtered streams 4460 are distributed to respective client devices through a network.

In the example of FIG. 44, a client device 180 receiving a content-filtered video signal processed at signal-editing module 460(2) provides new content-definition parameters. A controller (not illustrated) comprising a hardware processor instructs signal-editing module 460(6), which is currently free, to generate a new content-filtered video signal according to the new content-definition parameters. After a transient period, signal-editing module 460(6) would direct data blocks of the new content-filtered video signal to buffer 4420(4) and signal-editing module 460(2) would disconnect and become a spare signal-editing module.

FIG. 45 illustrates coupling the universal streaming server 120 to a network. The universal streaming server 120 may be implemented in its entirety within a cloud computing network and communication with the client devices 180 may also take place within the cloud computing network. Alternatively, the generated client bound streams 940 (FIG. 9) may be routed to the client devices through a router/switch 4540 of another network. Router-switch 4540 may connect to numerous other servers or other router-switches through input ports 4541 and output ports 4542.

Thus, the server comprises network access ports to communicate with a plurality of video sources and a plurality of client devices through a shared network. The server may be partially or entirely installed within a shared cloud-computing network where the physical processors and associated memory devices are dynamically allocated on demand.

Summing up, the disclosed universal streaming server is devised to interact with multiple panoramic multimedia sources of different types and with client devices of different capabilities. The server may exchange control signals with a panoramic multimedia source to enable acquisition of multimedia signals together with descriptors of the multimedia signals and data indicating signal processes performed at source. The server may exchange control signals with a client device to coordinate delivery of a signal sample of a full-coverage (attainable-coverage) panoramic video signal and acquire identifiers of a preferred view region from a viewer at the client device.

The server is devised to implement several methods of capturing a client's viewing preference. According to one method, a signal sample corresponding to attainable spatial coverage is sent to client device and a viewer at a client device may send an identifier of a preferred view region to the server. The server then sends a corresponding content-filtered video signal. The server distributes software module to subtending client devices to enable this process. According to another method, the server may multicast to client devices a number of content-filtered video signals corresponding to different view regions. The content-filtered video signals are derived from a full-coverage (attainable-coverage) panoramic video signal. Viewers at the client devices may individually signal their respective selection. The server may use a streaming-control table (FIG. 32) to eliminate redundant processing.

A panoramic video signal is acquired and transcoded to produce a transcoded signal compatible with a client device. A signal sample of the transcoded signal is then transmitted to the client device. Upon receiving from the client device descriptors of a preferred view region, the content of the transcoded signal is edited to produce a content-filtered signal corresponding to the preferred view region. The content-filtered signal, or a compressed form of the content-filtered signal, is sent to the client device instead of the signal sample.

Acquiring the panoramic video signal comprises processes of establishing a connection from the server to a panoramic multimedia source, requesting and receiving a multimedia signal that includes the panoramic video signal together with indications of any signal processing applied to the panoramic video signal at source. The acquired panoramic video signal may be decompressed and/or de-warped at the server according to the indications of processes performed at source. The signal sample may be a frame-sampled signal comprising distant frames of the transcoded signal. Alternatively, the signal sample may be a compressed form of the transcoded signal.

Arrangements for efficient video-signal content selection in a universal streaming system serving numerous clients have been described and illustrated in FIGS. 19, 28, 29, and 43. The method of signal streaming of FIG. 43 comprises receiving (process 4310) at a server 120 a full-coverage signal and at a controller comprising a hardware processor:

-   -   forming (process 4320) a register for holding identifiers of         partial-coverage signals derived from the full-coverage signal;     -   receiving (process 4330) from a client device 180 coupled to the         server 120 new content-definition parameters defining a view         region; and     -   examining (process 4340) the register to ascertain presence of a         matching partial-coverage signal corresponding to the new         content-definition parameters.

If a matching partial-coverage signal is found (processes 4350 and 4360) the controller directs (process 4390) the matching partial-coverage signal to an encoder prior to transmission to the client device. If a matching partial-coverage signal is not found, the controller directs (process 4350) the full-coverage signal to a content filter to extract (process 4370) a new partial-coverage signal according to the new content-definition parameters.

The new partial-coverage video signal may need to be transcoded to generate a transcoded video signal compatible with characteristics of the client device. The transcoded video signal may be further compressed under a predefined nominal flow rate. The controller determines a bit rate of the encoded video signal and inserts (process 4380) the new content-definition parameters in the register.

The method further comprises receiving from the client device performance measurements pertinent to conditions at a receiver of the client device and conditions of a network path from the server to the receiver. The controller determines performance metrics based on the performance measurements. The controller determines a permissible flow rate as a function of deviation of the performance metrics from corresponding predefined thresholds (FIG. 41) and the bit rate of the encoded video signal.

The new partial-coverage signal may be directed to multiple encoders operating under different permissible flow rates to produce encoded signals corresponding to the same view region but of different flow rates and/or different formats to be transmitted to different client devices.

Processor-executable instructions causing respective hardware processors to implement the processes described above may be stored in processor-readable media such as floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, Flash ROMS, non-volatile ROM, and RAM. A variety of processors, such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, and gate arrays, may be employed.

FIG. 46 illustrates a conventional system 4600 for selective content broadcasting. A plurality of signal sources 4610 is positioned for live coverage of an event. Each signal source 4610 comprises a camera 4614 operated by a person 4612 and coupled to a transmitter 4616. The signals from the signal sources 4610 are communicated through a transmission medium 4620 to a broadcasting station. A receiver 4630 at the broadcasting station acquires the baseband signals 4640. The receiver 4630 has multiple output channels each for carrying a baseband signal 4640 generated at a respective signal source 4610. Each acquired baseband signal is fed to a respective display device 4650 of a plurality of display devices. A manually operated view-selection unit 4660 selects one of baseband signals fed to the display devices 4650. A viewer 4662 observes all displays and uses a selector (a “switcher”) 4664 to direct a preferred baseband signal 4640 to a transmitter 4680. The transmitter 4680 is coupled to a transmission medium through an antenna or a cable 4690. Components such as encoders and decoders, well known in the art, used for performing baseband signal compression and decompression, are omitted in FIG. 46.

FIG. 47 illustrates an arrangement for broadcasting operator-defined content of multimedia signals. A panoramic signal source 4710 generates a modulated carrier source signal 4712 containing a panoramic multimedia signal. The panoramic multimedia signal includes a 4π video signal component from a 4π camera as well as other components, such as audio and text components, which may be produced by camera circuitry and/or other devices (not illustrated). A raw video signal 312 (FIG. 3) provided by the camera may be inherently warped. A source-processing unit 4714 may perform processes including:

-   -   de-warping the raw signal to produce a corrected signal 322         (FIG. 3);     -   compressing the raw signal without de-warping to produce a         compressed signal 342 which would be decompressed and de-warped         at destination;     -   de-warping and compressing the raw signal to produce a compact         signal 343 which would be decompressed at destination.

The source-processing unit 4714 may further insert signal description data indicating whether any signal process (de-warping/compression) has been performed

The source-processing unit 4714 may also include a module 4715 for providing cyclic video-frame numbers where the sequential order of the frames may be indicated. For example, using a single byte of 8 bits to mark the sequential order, the frames would be cyclically indexed as 0 to 255. This indexing facilitates content filtering.

A broadband transmitter 4716 transmits the processed multimedia signals along a transmission medium 4718 to a content selector 4740 for content filtering before communicating the signal to a broadcasting facility.

An acquisition module 4720 generates from the modulated carrier source signal 4712 a pure multimedia signal 4730 as well as a signal descriptor 4732. The pure multimedia signal 4730 includes a pure video signal that represents images captured by the camera. The signal descriptor 4732 identifies processes performed at the panoramic signal source 4710. The pure multimedia signal is presented to a content selector 4740, to be described below with reference to FIG. 50, to produce a content-filtered signal 4764. The content selector 4740 comprises a virtual-reality (VR) headset 4750 and a content filter 4760. An operator 4725 uses the VR headset to select content considered suitable for target viewers. The operator may rely on an internal display of the VR headset and/or an external display 4770.

FIG. 48 illustrates a first combined broadcasting and streaming system 4800 configured to receive a modulated carrier source signal 4712 and generate an operator-defined content filtered multimedia signal as well as multiple viewer-defined content-filtered multimedia signals.

A 4π multimedia baseband signal is generated at a multimedia signal source 4710 (FIG. 47) which modulates a carrier signal to produce the modulated carrier source signal 4712. The received modulated carrier source signal 4712 is directed concurrently to a broadcasting subsystem 4804 and a streaming subsection 4808.

A repeater 4810 may enhance the modulated carrier source signal 4712 and direct the enhanced carrier signal to a streaming apparatus 4820 through a transmission medium 4812. The streaming apparatus 4820 comprises an acquisition module 4720-B and a Universal Streaming Server 120. The Universal Streaming Server 120 receives viewing-preference indications from a plurality of client devices 180 through network 150 and provides client-specific multimedia signals as described earlier with reference to FIGS. 10, 28, and 29.

An acquisition module 4720-A generates a pure multimedia signal 4730, which corresponds to the content captured at a field of an event, from the modulated carrier source signal 4712. The pure multimedia signal 4730 is directed to content selector 4740 which continually extracts broadcast multimedia signals 4764 to be communicated to a broadcasting facility. The broadcast multimedia signal 4764 may be compressed at compression module 4862 to produce compressed content-filtered signal 4864 which is supplied to transmitter 4870 for transmitting a respective modulated carrier through a channel 4880 to a broadcasting station and/or to the Universal Streaming Server 120 through a channel 4890 and network 150. The Universal Streaming Server 120 may offer the broadcast multimedia signal as a default for a client 180 that does not specify a viewing region preference.

FIG. 49 illustrates an acquisition module 4720 for reconstructing a pure multimedia signal from a modulated carrier source signal 4712 received from a panoramic multimedia signal source. The pure multimedia signal contains a pure video signal and other multimedia components. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the baseband signal transmitted from a multimedia source may be a raw signal 312, a corrected (de-warped) signal 322 which is a pure multimedia signal, a compressed raw signal 342, or a compact signal (de-warped and compressed) 343. Thus, the received modulated carrier source signal 4712 may carry one of the four baseband signals 312, 322, 342, and 343.

A receiver 4940 demodulates the modulated carrier source signal 4712 and produces a source multimedia signal 4943 and a signal descriptor 4732 which identifies processes performed at source. Input selector 4946 directs the source multimedia signal 4943 to different paths to output of the acquisition module. Output selector 4947 is synchronized with, and complements, input selector 4946.

Receiver 4940 produces:

-   -   (a) a replica of a raw signal 312 which is supplied to pure         signal generator 4950-A comprising a de-warping module 320 to         produce a pure multimedia signal 4730;     -   (b) a corrected signal 322 (de-warped) which is a pure         multimedia signal 4730;     -   (c) a compressed signal 342 which is supplied to pure signal         generator 4950-B comprising a decompression module 350 and a         de-warping module 320 to produce a pure multimedia signal 4730;         or     -   (d) a compact signal 343 (de-warped and compressed) which is         supplied to pure-signal generator 4950-C comprising a         decompression module 350 to produce a pure multimedia signal         4730.

FIG. 50 illustrates an arrangement for content selection for broadcasting comprising a virtual-reality headset (VR headset) 4750 and a content filter 4760. The VR headset comprises at least one processor, storage media, and a gaze-tracking mechanism.

In a first implementation of the content selector (4740-A), a content-filter 4760A is a separate hardware entity and a pure multimedia signal 4730 is supplied to both the VR headset 4750 and the content filter 4760A. The content filter 4760A comprises a respective processor and a memory device storing processor-readable instructions constituting a module for extracting from the pure multimedia signal a filtered multimedia signal with adaptive spatial coverage which closely corresponds to head or eye movement of an operator using a low-latency VR headset 4750. A control signal 4752 communicates parameters defining the spatial coverage from the VR-headset 4750 to the content filter 4760A. The content filter 4760A generates content-filtered signal 4764 intended for broadcasting. The content-filtered signal 4764 may be displayed using an external display 5090.

In a second implementation of the content selector (4740-B), a content-filter 4760B is embedded in the VR headset 4750 where processor-readable instructions for extracting a filtered multimedia signal reside in a memory device of the VR headset. Thus, the content-filtered signal is provided at an outlet of the VR headset 4750.

FIG. 51 illustrates a first broadcasting subsystem 5100 for selective content broadcasting employing a panoramic camera and a VR headset. Instead of deploying multiple signal sources 4610 (FIG. 46), a single, possibly unattended, panoramic signal source 4710 may be used to cover an event. A 4π camera 310 captures a view and produces a raw signal 312 which may be directly fed to a broadband transmitter 4716. Alternatively, the raw signal may be fed to a source-processing unit 4714 which selectively produces a corrected (de-warped) signal 322, a compressed raw signal 342, or a compact signal (de-warped and compressed) 343 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The output of the source-processing unit 4714 is supplied to broadband transmitter 4716.

The broadband transmitter 4716 sends a modulated carrier source signal 4712 through transmission medium 4718 to an acquisition module 4720 which is a hardware entity comprising a receiver 4940, a processor residing in a monitoring facility 5120, and memory devices storing processor-readable instructions which cause the processor to perform functions of de-warping and/or decompression as illustrated in FIG. 3. The acquisition module produces a pure multimedia signal 4730 which is fed to a VR headset 4750 and a content filter 4760 (FIG. 50). The pure multimedia signal 4730 is also fed to a panoramic-display device 4770 if the VR headset does not have an internal display unit or to provide a preferred display. As described above, the view-selection unit 4740 comprises a VR headset 4750 which an operator 4725 wears to track views of the panoramic display considered to be of interest to television viewers of an event.

A low-latency VR headset 4750 interacting with a content filter 4760 generates a content-filtered multimedia signal 4764 corresponding to the operator's changing angle of viewing. The content-filtered multimedia signal may be supplied to an auxiliary display device 5090 and to a compression module 4862. The output signal 4864 of the compression module is fed to a transmitter 4870 to modulate a carrier signal to be sent along a channel 4880 to a broadcasting station and—optionally—along a channel 4890 to a Universal Streaming Server 120.

In the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 51, the content selector 4740 residing in a monitoring facility 5120, which is preferably situated at a short distance from the panoramic signal source 4710, comprises a VR headset and a content filter 4760. The VR headset, together with the operator, constitutes a “content controller”. The content filter 4760 is either directly coupled to the VR headset 4750 or embedded in the VR headset. The control data 4752 generated at the VR headset corresponds to a pure signal 4730 supplied to the VR headset.

FIG. 52 illustrates a second broadcasting subsystem for selective content broadcasting for a case where the content controller and the content filter 4760 are not collocated so that a signal-transfer delay from one to the other is significant. Due to the signal-transfer delay, a content-filtered signal produced at the content filter based on control data sent from the VR headset would result in a view region that differs from what the operator of the VR headset selected. To circumvent this discrepancy, the pure signal 4730 provided to the VR headset and the content filter is buffered at the content filter to permit applying control data to corresponding portions of the pure signal 4730.

The content filter 4760 is upgraded to an augmented content selector 5210 which comprises: a content buffer 5230 preceding the content filter 4760; and a content-filter controller 5220 coupled to the memory controller of the content buffer and to the content filter 4760.

Data blocks of a pure signal 4730 derived at an acquisition module 4720 collocated with the augmented content selector 5210 are simultaneously directed to the content buffer 5230 and to a communication channel to the VR headset. The content buffer stores data blocks, each data block corresponding to a display image, i.e., pure signal data during a frame period (for example, 20 milliseconds at a frame rate of 50 frames per second). Each data block is stored at a buffer address corresponding to a cyclic frame number. For example, the content buffer may be organized into L segments, L>1, each for holding a data block of one frame. The L segments would be indexed as 0 to (L−1). The frames are assigned cyclical numbers between 0 and (L−1), so that a frame of absolute number M would have a cyclical number m=M_(modulo L) and a data block corresponding to frame M would be stored in memory segment m in content buffer 5230. Thus, content buffer 5230 is operated as a circular buffer of L buffer segments. For example, with L=128, a data block of frame 12000 would be stored at address 96 (12000_(modulo 128)).

At a frame rate of 50 frames per second, a period of 128 frames is 2.56 seconds which is much larger than any round trip signal transfer delay between the augmented content selector and the distant content selector 5240. Thus, each data block would be held in the content buffer for a sufficient period of time to be presented together with corresponding control data to the content filter 4760. This requires that each control signal resulting from an operator action be associated with a respective cyclic frame number.

As illustrated in FIG. 47, a module 4715 provides cyclic video-frame numbers which would be needed to facilitate relating control data (messages) 5270 (FIG. 52, FIG. 58), received at augmented content selector 5210 from distant content selector 5240, to corresponding video frames. The cyclic period, denoted Γ, of the cyclic video-frame numbers is at least equal to L and may be much larger. With Γ=4096 and L=128, for example, a frame of an absolute frame number 12000 would have a cyclic number of 12000|modulo 4096, which is 3808, with respect to cyclic period Γ and a cyclic number 12000|modulo 128, which is 96, with respect to cyclic period L. Content-filter controller 5220 would then determine the address of a frame data block corresponding to frame cyclic number 3808 as 3808|modulo 128, which is 96.

Regulating View-Region Updates

FIG. 53 illustrates control data 5270 sent from the distant content selector 5240 to the augmented content selector 5210 of the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 52. The control data comprises view-region definition data such as the conventional parameters “Tilt-Pan-Zoom” defining a “gaze position” and other parameters which enable precise definition of a view region corresponding to the operators gaze orientation. In order to relate the parameters to an appropriate portion of the pure signal 4730, an identifier of a corresponding frame need be associated with the control data 5270. It suffices to use cyclic frame number with a sufficient cyclic limit Γ; Γ=4096 for example. As illustrated in FIG. 53, a cyclic frame number is associated with each gaze position. With Γ=4096, a frame cyclic number 0 follows a frame cyclic number 4095. Notably, cyclic limit Γ may assume any value equal to or exceeding the number L of buffer segments of the content buffer 5230.

In order to avoid unnecessary redefinition of the view region for minor displacements of the gaze position, herein referenced as gaze-position jitter, a displacement Δ of a current gaze position from a reference gaze position defining a last view region is determined. The displacement may be determined as a Euclidean distance between a current gaze position and a reference gaze position. If the displacement exceeds a predefined displacement threshold Δ*, a new view region is determined and the current gaze position becomes the reference gaze position. The control data from the distant content selector 5240 to the augmented content selector 5210 indicates the gaze position and other associated parameters with a “refresh” flag. Otherwise, if the displacement is less than, or equal, to the predefined threshold Δ*, control data from the distant content selector 5240 indicates a null position to the augmented content selector 5210 so that the last reference gaze position remains in effect.

Thus, the present invention provides a method of communication comprising employing a virtual-reality headset, 4750, FIG. 47, to produce a virtual-reality display of a pure signal 4730 comprising multimedia signals and generate geometric data 4752 defining a selected view-region definition data of the display. The virtual-reality display may be produced from the pure signal using an internal display device of the virtual-reality headset 4750 and/or an external display device 4770.

A content filter 4760 extracts a content-filtered signal 4764 from the pure signal according to the geometric data. The content-filtered signal is directed to a broadcasting apparatus. The virtual-reality headset comprises a processor and memory devices to perform the process of generating the geometric data and tracking of changing gaze orientation of an operator 4752 wearing the virtual-reality headset 4750.

A sensor within the virtual-reality headset provides parameters defining a current gaze orientation of the operator 4725. A content filter is devised to determine the selected view region according to the current gaze orientation and a predefined shape of the view region.

The pure signal 4730 is produced from a source signal 4712 received from a panoramic signal source 4710. The source signal 4712 includes multimedia signal components 4943 and a signal descriptor 4732 identifying the multimedia signal. The signal descriptor identifies content of the source signal as one of:

-   -   the pure signal 322 (FIG. 3);     -   a raw signal 312;     -   a warped compressed signal 342; and     -   a de-warped compressed signal 343.

If the content of the source signal is not the pure signal, the source signal is supplied to a matching pure-signal generator 4950 (FIG. 49) to produce the pure signal.

The process of generating the geometric data comprises steps of determining a gaze position 5320 of a viewer of the virtual-reality display (FIG. 53), and determining spatial coordinates of a contour of a predefined form surrounding the gaze position 5320.

The content-filtered signal 4764 is extracted from the pure signal according to the geometric data. The content-filtered signal 4764 comprises samples of the pure signal corresponding to content within the contour. The function of the content filter 4760 may be performed within the virtual-reality headset so that extracting the content-filtered signal may be performed using processor executable instructions stored in a memory device of the virtual-reality headset. Alternatively, extracting the content-filtered signal may be performed at an independent content filter 4760 coupled to the virtual-reality headset and comprising a respective processor and a memory device.

The content-filtered signal 4764 may be compressed to produce a compressed filtered signal 4864 (FIG. 48). The compressed filtered signal may then be transmitted to a broadcasting station, through channel 4880, and/or a Universal Streaming Server, through channel 4890 and network 150.

The source signal 4712 received from the panoramic signal source 4710 may be relayed, using repeater 4810 (FIG. 48), to a streaming apparatus 4820 that comprises an acquisition module 4720-B and a Universal Streaming Server 120. The acquisition module generates a replica of the pure signal 4730 which is supplied to the Universal Streaming Server. The Universal Streaming Server is configured to provide viewer content control to a plurality of viewers 180 (FIG. 48).

As described above, the present invention provides a communication system configured to receive a modulated carrier source signal 4712 and extract a content-filtered multi-media signal 4764 for broadcasting. The system comprises a virtual-reality headset 4750, a content filter 4760, and a transmitter.

The virtual-reality headset is configured to present a virtual-reality display of a pure signal 4730 derived from the received modulated carrier source signal 4712. The content filter is configured to generate a content-filtered signal 4764 from the pure signal according to the geometric data. The transmitter sends the content-filtered signal along a channel to a broadcasting station.

The virtual-reality headset comprises a sensor of gaze orientation of an operator 4752 wearing the virtual-reality headset and a memory device storing processor executable instructions causing a processor to generate geometric data 4752 defining a view region of the display according to the gaze orientation. The content filter comprises a respective processor and a memory device.

The communication system further comprises an acquisition module 4720 (FIG. 47, FIG. 49) for deriving the pure signal 4730 from the received panoramic multimedia signal 4712. The acquisition module comprises a receiver 4942, a set of pure-signal generators 4950 for generation the pure signal, and a selector 4946. Receiver 4942 generates from a modulated carrier source signal a source multimedia signal and a corresponding signal descriptor. Selector 4946 directs the source multimedia signal to a matching pure-signal generator 4950 according to the corresponding signal descriptor.

The virtual-reality headset is further configured to determine a gaze position of the operator 4752 and the geometric data 4752 as representative spatial coordinates of a contour of a predefined form surrounding the gaze position. The content-filtered signal 4764 comprises samples of the pure signal 4730 corresponding to content within the contour.

Optionally, the communication system may comprise a repeater 4810 (FIG. 48) for relaying the modulated carrier source signal 4712 sent from a panoramic signal source 4710 to a streaming apparatus 4820. The streaming apparatus comprises an acquisition module 4720 for generating a replica of the pure signal 4730 and a Universal Streaming Server 120 receiving the pure signal 4730 and providing content-filtered signals based on individual viewer selection.

Accounting for Control-Data Delay

FIG. 54 illustrates data exchange 5400 between the augmented content selector 5210 and the distant content selector 5240 of the broadcasting subsystem of FIG. 52. The cyclic frame identifiers of frame data blocks 5410 of a pure signal 4730 supplied to the content buffer 5230 and the distant content selector are denoted f₀, f₁, . . . , f_(Γ−1); only f₀ to f₁₇ are illustrated. Each frame data blocks 5410 sent from an acquisition module 4720 collocated with the augmented content selector to the distant content selector 5240 is subject to a transfer delay 5440. A displayed image corresponding to the frame data block may result in a response from the operator 4725 causing the tracking mechanism of the VR headset to generate a new gaze position with latency 5450. A message 5420 indicating a gaze-position displacement (which may be zero or a negligible value) is inserted in the content control data 5270 which is sent to the augmented content selector 5210 with a transfer delay of 5460. A message 5420 also includes a frame identifier and other control parameters defining a view region. The total round-trip and tracking delay (5440, 5450, and 5460) may be significantly larger than the frame period 5430 depending on the relative locations of the augmented content selector 5210 and the distant content selector. The frame identifiers indicated in the messages 5420 are denoted φ₀, φ₁, . . . , φ_(Γ−1); only φ₀ to φ₁₂ are illustrated. As indicated, there is a delay of five frame periods between the instant of sending a frame data block 5410 from an acquisition module coupled to the augmented content selector 5210 and receiving a respective control message from the distant content selector 5240. During a frame period 5, frame data block f₅ is supplied to the content buffer 5230 while control data relevant to a frame data block f₀ sent earlier during frame period 0 is received at content-filter controller 5220 of the augmented content selector 5210.

FIG. 55 illustrates frame-data flow through the content buffer 5230 of the augmented content selector 5210 of the system of FIG. 52 indicating occupancy of the content buffer during successive frame periods. As described above, content buffer 5230 is a circular buffer that stores a maximum of L frame data blocks 5410, each frame-data block occupying one buffer segment. The number L may be selected so that the duration of L frames exceeds the round-trip data transfer delay between the augmented content selector 5210 and the distant content selector 5240. Frame data blocks are written sequentially in consecutive buffer segments of indices 0 to (L−1). The buffer segment in which a frame-data block is written during a frame period j is denoted W(j) and the buffer segment from which a frame-data block is read during a frame period j is denoted R(j), j≧0. In the illustrated case, L is selected to equal 8.

Consecutive frame data blocks of the pure signal 4730 at output of the acquisition module collocated with the augmented content selector 5210 are denoted A0, A1, . . . , A0 being the first frame-data block of the pure signal 4730. The buffer segments are referenced as segment-0, segment-1, . . . , and segment-7. During the first frame period, frame-data block A0 is written in segment-0. During the second frame period, frame-data block A1 is written in segment-1, and so on. During an eighth frame period, frame-data block A7 is written in segment-0 (8_(modulo L)=1), during a ninth frame period, frame-data block A7 is written in segment-1 (9_(modulo L)=1), and so on. With a round-trip transfer delay of five frame periods (FIG. 54), during the first five frame periods, five frame-data blocks A0, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are written in the content buffer but no data is read. During the sixth frame period, frame-data block A5 is written in segment-5 and frame-data block A0 is read from segment-0 and segment-0 becomes available for storing a new frame-data block (i.e., A0 may be overwritten as indicated with the underline).

FIG. 56 illustrates a second system for combined selective content broadcasting and streaming employing a panoramic camera and a VR headset, the system comprising a routing facility 5620 and a remote content controller 5640 which comprises an acquisition module 4720 and a distant content selector 5240. The routing facility 5620 communicates with the remote content controller 5640 through a network 5630. FIG. 57 details the routing facility 5620 of FIG. 56.

As in the configuration of FIG. 51, the 4π camera produces a broadband signal which may be de-warped and/or compressed in source processing unit 4714 then supplied to transmitter 5416 to produce modulated carrier source signal 4712 sent to routing facility through transmission channel 5622. The routing facility receives the modulated carrier source signal 4712 at input (a) and supplies the signal to a repeater 5710 (FIG. 57) which produces:

-   -   an amplified modulated carrier 5651 directed from output (c) to         remote content controller 5640 through a channel 5624, network         5630, and channel 5644 from network 5630 to produce an         operator-defined content filtered signal; and     -   an amplified modulated carrier 5652 directed from output (b) to         a Universal Streaming Server 120 embedded in a cloud computing         network 5670 to produce viewers-defined content-filtered         signals.

Control data is sent to the routing facility 5620 through channel 5646, network 5630, and channel 5626. The routing facility 5620 captures the control data at input (d) and a receiver 5770 detects control data from control signals 5270 sent from remote content controller 5640 through network 5630 and channel 5626. The detected control data is supplied to augmented content selector 5210 which produces an operator-defined content-filtered signal 4764. The content-filtered signal 4764 is compressed in compression module 4862 and supplied to transmitter 4870 to produce a modulated carrier signal to be directed from output (e) through channel 5628 to broadcasting station 5680 and through channel 5629 to Universal Streaming Server through channel 5629 and network 5630.

FIG. 58 details the remote content controller 5640 which comprises an acquisition module 4720 and distant content selector 5240 which includes a virtual-reality headset 4750 used by operator 4725. A frame-number extraction module 5810 extracts a cyclical frame number from a pure multimedia signal 4730 detected at the acquisition module 4720. A frame-number insertion module 5812 inserts the extracted cyclical frame number into control data 5270 which define the operator's preferred view region of the display. A refresh module 5820 collocated with distant content selector 5240 further modifies the control data 5270 as illustrated in FIG. 53.

Alternatively, the process of relating control data (individual control messages) 5270 to video frames identified at module 4715 (FIG. 56) may rely on using “time-stamps” and measuring the round-trip transfer delay between the augmented content selector 5210 (FIG. 52, FIG. 57) and the distant content selector 5240 (FIG. 52, FIG. 58). However, the use of cyclical frame numbers as described above is preferable

FIG. 59 illustrates a hybrid system for selective content broadcasting of multimedia signals using a panoramic camera, a bank of content filters, and a conventional switcher. The multimedia signals are generated at signal source 4710 which comprises a 4π camera 310 coupled to a source-processing unit 4714 and a broadband transmitter 4716. The camera captures a panoramic view and produces a raw signal 312 which may be directly fed to broadband transmitter 4716 or supplied to source-processing unit 4714 which processes the raw signal 312 to produce a corrected (de-warped) signal 322, a compressed raw signal 342, or a compact signal (de-warped and compressed) 343 as illustrated in FIG. 3 in addition to inserting other control data. The output of the source-processing unit 4714 is supplied to broadband transmitter 4716.

The broadband transmitter 4716 sends a modulated carrier source signal 4712 through the transmission medium 4718 to an acquisition module 4720 which is a hardware entity comprising a receiver 4940, a processor, and memory devices storing processor-readable instructions which cause the processor to perform functions of de-warping and/or decompression as illustrated in FIG. 49. The acquisition module produces a pure multimedia signal 4730 which is fed to a bank 5925 of content filters 5932 configured to provide filtered signals collectively covering the entire view captured by the panoramic camera 310. The output signal 5940 of each content filter 5932 is fed to a respective display device 4650.

A manually operated view-selection unit 4660, similar to that of FIG. 46, selects one of baseband signals fed to the display devices 4650. An operator 4662 observes all displays and uses a selector (also called a “switcher”) 4664 to direct a preferred output signal 5140 to a transmitter 4680. The transmitter 4680 is coupled to a transmission medium through an antenna or a cable 4690.

FIG. 60 depicts a method 6000 of selective content broadcasting implemented in the system of FIG. 51. A panoramic signal source including a stationary 4π camera 310, source-processing unit 4714, and a broadband transmitter 4716 is appropriately positioned in the field of events to be covered. A pure multimedia signal 4730 is acquired (process 6010, acquisition module 4720) at a location close to the panoramic signal source through a transmission medium 4718 which can be a broadband wireless channel or a fiber-optic link. The panoramic signal is displayed (process 6020, internal display of a VR headset and/or display device 4770). An operator 4725 inspects the display using a VR headset 4750 (process 6030). A content-filtered signal corresponding to the operator's gaze direction is acquired from said VR head set. The content-filtered signal is compressed (process 6040, compression module 4862) to produce a compressed signal which is transmitted to a broadcasting station (process 6050, transmitter 4870).

FIG. 61 depicts a method 6100 of selective content broadcasting implemented in the system of FIG. 59. As in the method of FIG. 60, a panoramic signal source including a 4π camera 310, a source processing unit 4714, and a broadband transmitter 4716 is appropriately positioned in the field of events to be covered. A pure multimedia signal 4730 is acquired (process 6110, acquisition module 4720) at a location close the panoramic signal source through a transmission medium 4718.

A bank 5925 of content filters 5932 is provided and the pure multimedia signal 4730 is supplied to each content filter 5932. Each content filters 5932 is configured to extract (process 6120) from the panoramic signal a respective filtered signal corresponding to a respective viewing angle. Collectively, the filtered signals cover the entire field of events. Naturally, the viewed portions of the field corresponding to the filtered signals are bound to overlap. The filtered signals are displayed (process 6130) on separate display devices. An operator 4662 (FIG. 59) activates a selector (switcher) 4664 to direct a preferred filtered signal to a transmitter 4680 (process 6140). The modulated carrier at output of the transmitter is sent to a broadcasting station (process 6150).

FIG. 62 is a flowchart depicting basic processes of the system of FIG. 48 and FIG. 51. In process 6210, a modulated carrier source signal 4712 is received at a monitoring facility 5120. In process 6230, source signal 4712 may be relayed (repeater 4810) to a streaming subsystem 4808. In process 6212, an acquisition module 4720 acquires a pure multimedia signal 4730 from source signal 4712. In process 6214, a content selector 4740 generates an operator-defined content-filtered multimedia signal 4764 intended for broadcasting. The signal may be compressed before transmitting to a broadcasting facility as well as to Universal Streaming Server 120 to be used for a default viewing selection (process 6220).

At the streaming subsystem 4808, an acquisition module 4720 acquires a replica of pure multimedia signal 4730 which is supplied to the Universal Streaming Server 120 (process 6240). The Universal Streaming Server sends a full content signal, preferably at a reduced flow rate as illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, to client devices 180 communicatively coupled to the Universal Streaming Server 120 (process 6242). The Universal Streaming Server 120 may receive a viewing preference from a client 180 (process 6244) and produce a respective content-filtered signal (process 6246). In the absence of a client's preference indication, content based on the default viewing selection may be sent to the client. The Universal Streaming Server 120 retains content based on viewers' selections as illustrated in FIG. 32 in addition to the default viewing selection (process 6248).

FIG. 63 illustrates a method of content-filtering of a panoramic multimedia signal to produce an operator-defined content for broadcasting. The method comprises generating at an acquisition module 4720 (FIG. 47, FIG. 51) a pure signal from a multimedia signal 4712, (FIGS. 47, 48, 49, 51) received from a panoramic multimedia source 4710 (FIG. 47, FIG. 51) and employing a content selector 4740 configured to extract from the pure signal content-filtered signals corresponding to varying view-regions of a displayed pure signal.

The content selector 4740 performs processes of employing a virtual-reality headset 4750 (FIG. 47, FIG. 50) to view a display (process 6340, FIG. 63) of the pure signal 4730 and determining a current gaze position (process 6344) from the virtual-reality headset.

A displacement 5330 (FIG. 53) of the current gaze position from the reference gaze position is then determined (process 6346), the reference gaze position being initialized as a Null value (process 6342, FIG. 63). The reference gaze position is updated to equal the current gaze position subject to a determination that the displacement 5330 exceeds a predefined threshold (processes 6348 and 6350, FIG. 63).

View-region definition data are then generated (process 6360) using the reference gaze position and a predefined contour shape (such as a rectangle). A content-filtered signal 4764 (FIGS. 47, 48, 50, 51) is extracted from the pure signal 4730 (process 6370) according to the view-region definition data and transmitted to a broadcasting facility (process 6374, FIG. 63). The content-filtered signal 4764 may be compressed (process 6374) before transmission.

The gaze position is represented as a set of parameters or a vector of multiple dimensions and the displacement is determined as Euclidean distance between a first vector (a first set of parameters) representing the reference gaze position and a second vector (a second set of parameters) representing the current gaze position (FIG. 53). A set of parameters defining a gaze position may be selected as the conventional “tilt, pan, and zoom” parameters acquired from a sensor of the virtual-reality headset. The view-region definition data 6360 may be retained for reuse for cases where the displacement is less than or equal to the predefined threshold (processes 6348, 6370).

FIG. 64 and FIG. 65 illustrate a method of content-filtering of a panoramic multimedia signal implemented in the system of FIG. 56 where a routing facility 5620, which may be mobile, is located in the vicinity of the panoramic signal source 4710 and communicates with a remote content controller 5640 which houses a distant content selector 5240 with an operator 4725 wearing a virtual-reality headset 4750.

FIG. 64 illustrates processes performed at the remote content controller 5640. A source signal (a modulated carrier signal) 4712 is received at distant content selector 5240 (process 6410). A reference gaze position is initialized as a null position (process 6420) so that a first observed gaze position would force computation of a view-region definition. A pure multimedia signal 4730 is acquired from the source signal 4712 at distant content selector 5240 (process 6430).

The acquired pure multimedia signal at distant content selector 5240 is displayed (process 6440). A Refresh module 5820 collocated with distant content selector 5240 (FIG. 58) performs processes 6450 affecting the rate of updating view regions. A frame-number extraction module 5810 extracts (process 6452) a frame identifier from a pure multimedia signal detected at the acquisition module 4720 of the remote content controller 5640 (FIG. 58). A frame-number insertion module 5812 inserts frame numbers into control data 5270 directed to the augmented content selector 5210. A preferred frame identifier is a cyclic frame number which is the preferred identifier considered herein. A current gaze position 5320 (FIG. 53) is determined from an output of a virtual-reality headset of the distant content selector 5240 (process 6454).

Process 6456 determines a displacement of the current gaze position 5320 from the reference gaze position. Process 6458 determines whether the displacement exceeds a predefined displacement threshold Δ*. If so, the current gaze position becomes the reference gaze position (process 6470) and a control message containing the new reference gaze position together with the corresponding frame identifier is formed (process 6472). Otherwise, if the displacement is insignificant, being less than—or equal to—Δ*, process 6474 generates a message containing the corresponding frame identifier and a null gaze position indicating that a frame data block stored in the content buffer 5230 may be displayed according to a previous view-region definition. The control message formed in process 6472 or process 6474 is transmitted (process 6478) to augmented content selector 5210. Due to tracking latency of the virtual-reality headset, a minor shift of the cyclic frame number may be needed.

FIG. 65 illustrates processes 6500 performed at augmented content selector 5210 residing in the routing facility 5620. A new gaze position 5320 and a corresponding cyclic frame number 5310 (FIG. 53) are received (process 6510) from refresh module 5820 of the remote content controller 5640 (FIG. 56, FIG. 58). Process 6540 selects process 6560 if the new gaze position is a null position. Otherwise, process 6550 is activated to generate and retain a new view-region definition which would overwrite a current view-region definition. The new view-region definition would be based on the new gaze position and a predefined region shape (contour).

The frame identifier (cyclic frame number) is directed to process 6520 to determine the address of a frame data block 5232 in content buffer 5230 according to the received cyclic frame number 6512. The frame data block 5232 is read from the content buffer (process 6530) and directed to process 6560 to generate a content-filtered signal based on the last view-region definition. A content-filtered signal 4764 is generated in process 6560 based on the latest view-region definition which would be the one generated in process 6550 or a previous view-region definition when a control message includes a null gaze position indicating no change, or an insignificant change, of the gaze position.

The content-filtered signal may be compressed (process 6562) at routing facility 5620 (FIG. 57) supporting the augmented content selector 5210. The compressed content-filtered signal is transmitted from the routing facility (process 6564). New content-selection data (new gaze position and frame identifier) is received from refresh module 5820 (process 6580) and the above processes of generating content-filtered signals each frame period are continually executed, possibly at equidistant instants of time.

It is noted that content filter 4760 (FIGS. 47, 50 and 52), as well as the content filters 5932 (FIG. 59) employ hardware processors and memory devices storing processor-executable instructions which cause the hardware processors to implement respective processes of the present invention.

Methods of the embodiment of the invention are performed using one or more hardware processors, executing processor-executable instructions causing the hardware processors to implement the processes described above. Computer executable instructions may be stored in processor-readable storage media such as floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, Flash ROMS, non-volatile ROM, and RAM. A variety of processors, such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, and gate arrays, may be employed.

In a modification to the embodiments of the invention, the universal streaming server comprise a software, comprising executable instructions stored in a memory device for performing the methods of the embodiments described above, including acquiring multimedia signals, such as panoramic multimedia signals, and generating client-specific content-filtered multimedia signals under flow control.

Systems of the embodiments of the invention may be implemented as any of a variety of suitable circuitry, such as one or more microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), discrete logic, software, hardware, firmware or any combinations thereof. When modules of the systems of the embodiments of the invention are implemented partially or entirely in software, the modules contain a memory device for storing software instructions in a suitable, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and software instructions are executed in hardware using one or more processors to perform the techniques of this disclosure.

It should be noted that methods and systems of the embodiments of the invention and data streams described above are not, in any sense, abstract or intangible. Instead, the data is necessarily presented in a digital form and stored in a physical data-storage computer-readable medium, such as an electronic memory, mass-storage device, or other physical, tangible, data-storage device and medium. It should also be noted that the currently described data-processing and data-storage methods cannot be carried out manually by a human analyst, because of the complexity and vast numbers of intermediate results generated for processing and analysis of even quite modest amounts of data. Instead, the methods described herein are necessarily carried out by electronic computing systems having processors on electronically or magnetically stored data, with the results of the data processing and data analysis digitally stored in one or more tangible, physical, data-storage devices and media.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the described embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Various changes and modifications of the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the specification may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the scope of the invention in its broader aspect. 

1. A method of communication comprising: employing a virtual-reality headset comprising a processor and a memory device to perform processes of: acquiring a source signal from a source and extracting a pure signal from the source signal; producing a virtual-reality display of the pure signal; and generating geometric data defining a view region of said display; extracting a content-filtered signal from said pure signal according to said geometric data; and forwarding said content-filtered signal for further processing.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sensing a current gaze orientation of an operator wearing said virtual-reality headset; and determining said view region according to said current gaze orientation.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the source signal from a panoramic signal source; detecting a descriptor from said source signal; and identifying baseband content of said source signal based on said descriptor.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: selecting a matching pure-signal generator from a set of pure-signal generators based on said baseband content; and supplying said baseband content to said matching pure-signal generator.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein said identifying comprises classifying said baseband content as one of: a de-warped raw signal; a raw signal; a warped compressed signal; and a de-warped compressed signal.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating comprises: determining a gaze position of a viewer of said virtual-reality display; and determining said geometric data as representative spatial coordinates of a contour of a predefined form surrounding said gaze position.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said extracting comprises determining samples of said pure signal corresponding to content within said contour.
 8. The method of claim 1, comprising extracting said content-filtered signal at said virtual-reality headset.
 9. The method of claim 1, comprising extracting said content-filtered signal at a content filter coupled to said virtual-reality headset and comprising a respective processor and a memory device storing processor executable instructions.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said forwarding comprises: compressing said content-filtered signal to produce a compressed filtered signal; and transmitting said compressed filtered signal to a broadcasting station.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said forwarding comprises: compressing said content-filtered signal to produce a compressed filtered signal; and transmitting said compressed filtered signal to a server for communication over a network.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said producing comprises supplying said pure signal to at least one of: an internal display device of said virtual-reality headset; and an external display device.
 13. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving the source signal from a panoramic signal source; and relaying said source signal to a streaming apparatus enabling viewer content selection.
 14. A communication system comprising: a virtual-reality headset providing a virtual-reality display of a pure signal including multimedia signals, comprising: a sensor of gaze orientation of an operator wearing said virtual-reality headset; and a memory device storing processor executable instructions causing a processor to generate geometric data defining a view region of said display according to said gaze orientation; a content filter, comprising a respective processor and a memory device, configured to generate a content-filtered signal from said pure signal according to said geometric data; and a transmitter for sending said content-filtered signal along a channel to at least one communication facility for further processing.
 15. The communication system of claim 14 wherein said at least one communication facility comprises a broadcasting station.
 16. The communication system of claim 14 wherein said at least one communication facility comprises a streaming server enabling viewer content selection and providing said content-filtered signal as a default selection.
 17. The communication system of claim 14 further comprising an acquisition module comprising: a receiver generating from a modulated carrier source signal received from a source comprising a panoramic camera: a source multimedia signal; and a corresponding signal descriptor; a set of pure-signal generators; and a selector for directing said source multimedia signal to a matching pure-signal generator according to said corresponding signal descriptor for generating said pure signal.
 18. The communication system of claim 14 wherein said virtual-reality headset is further configured to: determine a gaze position of said operator; and determine said geometric data as representative spatial coordinates of a contour of a predefined form surrounding said gaze position.
 19. The communication system of claim 18 wherein said content-filtered signal comprises samples of said pure signal corresponding to points within said contour.
 20. The communication system of claim 14 further comprising a streaming apparatus for providing viewer content selection.
 21. The communication system of claim 14 wherein said virtual-reality display is presented by means of at least one of: an internal display device of said virtual-reality headset; or an external display device.
 22. A method of communications comprising: generating, at an acquisition module having a processor, a pure signal from a multimedia signal received from a panoramic multimedia source; and employing a content selector having a memory device storing instructions causing a respective processor to perform processes of: initializing a reference gaze position; employing a virtual-reality headset to view a display of said pure signal; determining a current gaze position from said virtual-reality headset; determining displacement of said current gaze position from said reference gaze position; updating said reference gaze position to equal said current gaze position subject to a determination that said displacement exceeds a predefined threshold; generating view-definition data using said reference gaze position and a predefined contour shape; extracting a content-filtered signal from said pure signal according to said view-definition data; and forwarding said content-filtered signal for further processing.
 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising representing said gaze position as a vector of multiple dimensions and determining said displacement as Euclidean distance between a first vector representing said reference gaze position and a second vector representing said current gaze position.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said multiple dimensions are tilt, pan, and zoom parameters acquired from a sensor of said virtual-reality headset.
 25. The method of claim 22 further comprising retaining said view-definition data for reusing provided that said displacement is below or equal to said predefined threshold. 